Year 2038 problem

In computer science, the year 2038 problem (also known by the numeronym Y2K38) could cause a failure of the software in that year. The problem affects programs that use representation system based on the POSIX time, based on counting the number of seconds since January 1, 1970 at 00:00:00 (ignoring leap seconds). The latest versions of the Linux kernel start counting at 21:00 on December 31 1969. Android, so does because it uses this version of kernel, but you can not select the date from the settings menu.

There is no simple way to fix this problem for existing combinations of CPU / OS. Change the definition of time_t to use a 64-bit type would break binary compatibility for software, data storage and generally anything that has something to do with the binary representation of time. Changing time_t to an unsigned 32-bit unsigned affect programs that make calculations with differences of time.

Most operating systems use 64-bit architectures to 64-bit integers time_t. Migration to these systems is still in process and is expected to be completed long before 2038. Using a 64-bit integer delay the date of issue about 2.90 billion years (2.9 × 1012). That is, 220 times the approximate age of the universe.

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            devices affected

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The problem was that Android devices are blocked and will not restart when the deadline was set. To check this you can go to the date and time settings on the device, and try to change the date and time to 2038; you will find surprise that only allows you to change until 31 December 2037. 4.0.4 added this feature in previous versions, the calendar showing dates to 2104, but selecting a more advanced date the deadline, the schedule returned to the current date. The date picker correctly showed the years at first, but by placing a finger on a no accounting date, this marked his refusal, ie the 19 January 2040, for example, at first glance it looked good, but the system marked 13 December 1903 since the restart, the first showable date is December 13, 1901. a curious fact is that in this way the system is not branded or restarted, the only way was leaving the counter reached the limit itself.
On iOS devices the system can change the date to January 1, 2038, however since the iPhone 5s henceforth be solved, as these recent iPhone models have a 64-bit processor that lets him out of this problem. Devices with Android, Ubuntu Phone, Touch or Firefox OS Ubuntu arrive until 31 December 2037. The devices allow Windows Phone 7 to reach the 1 January 2040. Windows Phone 8 devices are not affected, and dates have from 1601 to 3000, specifically January 1, arriving at 23:59, the counter returns 24 hours and redials 01/01/3000 00:00.