Option to Display Timezone With Optional Notation Formats in Date Field Types, and Display & Manage Timezones Identically in Both Web Version & Mobile app

Comments

9 comments

  • Official comment
    Jacquelyn May

    Hi Mark,

    The only setting affecting the timezones shown in Podio is the user's individual account setting. The operating system's timezone does not affect anything. We don't display the timezone on events because it will always show in the time zone selected in the user's settings. It would always show the exact same thing. This adjusts for each user, for example if you schedule a meeting for Eastern time, and invite colleagues from the Pacific time zone, then when they go to view the meeting it will show in Pacific time.

    Hopefully that can help to better explain how that works and avoid confusion going forward. 

    /Jacquelyn - Podio

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  • Mark Cannon

    Hi Jacquelyn,

    Your answer appears to merely tell what happens now and discount this as a request for a new feature. But maybe I misunderstood your purpose for writing your response.

    How can I clear up what my feature request is? I know timezones are confusing to people just out of the box, so my request is about making those timezones easier to understand, manage, and view.

    A few comments on what you said:

    1. "The operating system's timezone does not affect anything."

    When a mobile user sets the device's timezone (or it automatically changes when they move between timezones), why does the timezone change in date fields in Podio? My understanding was that the device sets the timezone and Podio uses that timezone.

    2. "We don't display the timezone on events because it will always show in the time zone selected in the user's settings. It would always show the exact same thing."

    But why should someone have to go to their settings to see what timezone they are in? Also, I don't know of a way to set Podio's timezone on a mobile device (Android). Can you direct me to that?

    Not displaying timezones in a date field ("event?") is a problem because our people move from location to location, and they don't think about what timezone they are in, and it changes without them doing anything (per #1 above). Or, they set the mobile device in the new time zone and forget to change it back. They need something telling them what their timezone is any time they are looking at a date field without needing to go to the settings. Timezones are confusing enough - they need to have a confirming description of the timezone that Podio is using to determine the time and date displayed in Podio whenever a date is displayed.

    3. "This adjusts for each user, for example if you schedule a meeting for Eastern time, and invite colleagues from the Pacific time zone, then when they go to view the meeting it will show in Pacific time."

    This begs the question of what I really am trying to ask for. When a person in ET is seeing the time, they need to verify that the person scheduling it (in PT timezone) did not forget what timezone the PT person was scheduling the meeting for (in ET). It is a confirmation for verifying the actual timezone. I know someone could click on the "i" in the computer version, but they can't in the mobile version, and that is an additional step. All I'm asking for in my request is to make it easier for people to understand, manage, and communicate the timezones in Podio date fields.

     

    Thanks,

    -Mark

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  • Jacquelyn May

    Hi Mark,

    Thanks for taking the time to clarify this. I think what you're describing is more of an unusual scenario (where users are constantly changing time zones). Since time zones can tend to be confusing, we want to keep it as simple as possible: You set the time zone that you live in, and then you don't have to worry about anything after that. Whatever you see in Podio is always in your time zone, and you never have to worry about making adjustments for yourself or for other users. 

    You're right that you can't adjust your time zone (or any other account settings) from the mobile apps, but for most people this isn't a setting that needs to be changed on the go. In most cases it doesn't need to be touched at all, since your time zone is set automatically based on your IP address when your account is created. 

    This is definitely something we can consider improving if this becomes a more common scenario, but for now I'd have to say our current setup is beneficial to the majority of our users. 

    /Jacquelyn - Podio

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  • Mark Cannon

    Thank you, Jacquelyn! I thought mobile movement between time zones would have been used by more companies.

    So is there anyone else out there that uses the Podio dates across time zones? Has this been an issue for anyone else?

    Thanks,

    Mark

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  • Frank Dirks

    I already described my wish for flexible timezones in another post. It might not be needed by the largest group of users, butbthat doesn't mean that we shouldn't have an option to turn 'advanced timezones' on or off. It's quite a normal requirement in enterprise software.

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  • Bernhard Wessels

    I think this is a more common need than people at Podio think. Even just a reminder next to the date field, what your account time zone is (maybe with a link to the account settings page) would be tremendously helpful. I just coordinated a meeting with people in 5 different time zones and most of them travel regularly. As it is now, I as administrator have to always double-check meeting times entered by colleagues.

    ***EDIT***

    I see now that there is the little i icon that does provide that information - but could you make the information always visible? And even more important - could you show it when I enter the time? (Because there it doesn't show at all at present)

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  • Nicole Collins

    Jacquelyn,

    I've read through all of the posts and replies and strongly feel that Podio is ignoring a necessary change and likely easy fix.  I can't understand why this isn't OBVIOUS. 

    As it is Podio is not  useful for scheduling.  I set up 20 meetings for a road trip  across the US and was constantly readjusting the times in my calendar.  How inconvenient and potentially disastrous.

    Why fight it?  Podio seems to be unresponsive to this issue and its so disappointing. Your position benefits no one and the change would be so wonderful.  Please add a time zone option with the date/ time settings. 

    Nicole

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  • Sara Høeg Højlund-Rasmussen

    Hi Nicole,

    We are not planning to fix this short-term, this feature request only have 4 votes and we would probably prioritise other items first. Just trying to be honest here :-)

    As a workaround, you can use a calculation field and add a calculation to show specific timezone relevant for your team.

    This calculation would for example show the EST timezone: moment(@Date).tz('America/New_York').format("DD. MMM HH:mm z")

    //Sara - Podio

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  • Kent Watson

    Hi Sara,

    The issue for me is not around displaying the timezone via a calculation but setting it correctly when making the appointment in the first instance.  I schedule lots of people to do work across a 5 hour difference (and everything in between).  In MS Outlook I set the time then set the timezone for the meeting and it adjusts to my timezone.  So I'm in GMT +10  if I'm scheduling someone in GMT +8 I simply select their timezone and set it to be 9am - 5pm in that timezone.  I don't have to do any mental calculations to make sure I have it right.  Sometimes I'm Scheduling virtual meetings between GMT +8 & GMT +12 (+ 1hr Daylight Saving making a total of 5hr difference) being able to set the timezone would allow me to schedule the meeting for 4pm @ GMT +12

    On a different note one of the other things that stops me using Podio to do this is the horrible subject line I get when using Microsoft tools, e.g. Outlook both desktop version and web version. I end up with this "[BULK] Kent Watson updated course CompanyA | Test Course - [RFR123 - TRE]"

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