More than 60 percent of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in Taiwan have yet to update their computer software to prevent the occurrence of a potential glitch known as the “centenary bug,” according to the results of a survey released yesterday.
The “centenary bug” could crop up mainly because, on earlier computer software, the year on the Republic of China (ROC) calendar is presented in two digits.
However, only 35.7 percent of local SMEs have completed software updates to prevent the problem, said Wang Yi-chih (王義智), an analyst at the Market Intelligence Center of the Institute for Information Industry that conducted the survey.
Furthermore, 20.3 percent of the companies polled were not even aware of the potential problem, Wang said.
With less than six months to go before the ROC enters its 100th year, the “centenary bug” has already hit state-owned Taiwan Power Co’s (Taipower, 台電) computer system.
As a result, astronomical electricity bills were sent to hundreds of Taipower customers earlier this month. In one case, a bill for NT$2,850 that was supposed to be dated the 7th month of the 99th year on the ROC calendar showed the date as the 90th month of the 9th year and the amount of the bill was about NT$70 million (US$2.2 million).
Noting that the “centenary bug” was unique to Taiwan, Wang said the government should publicize the issue more to heighten awareness among SMEs and to encourage them to test and update their computer software programs as soon as possible.
Cairo’s new monorail slices across the city skyline, running above the familiar chaos of blaring horns and aging buses’ exhaust fumes that mark rush hour below. The US$4.5 billion monorail, opened this month, is among Egypt’s most prominent new transport projects, part of a debt-funded infrastructure drive criticized for sapping state finances while bringing limited benefits to most of the country’s 109 million people. “It feels like you’re in a different country,” said Ramy Sayed, a restaurant manager, aboard a driverless Innovia 300 train. “No noise, no traffic, we’re not used to this.” The eastern line runs 56km from the bustling middle-class
Taiwanese firms have increased investment in the Philippines in recent years as Manila’s ties with Washington deepen and global supply chains continue to shift away from China, an expert at the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER, 中華經濟研究院) said yesterday. The Philippines had not been among Taiwanese investors’ top choices in Southeast Asia, CIER Taiwan ASEAN Studies Center director Kristy Hsu (徐遵慈) said at a seminar in Taipei. However, Taiwan’s investment in the country has grown significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching US $257 million last year, a high in recent years, she said. Although Taiwan’s total investment in the Philippines still lags
Starlux Airlines Co (星宇航空) today unveiled a long-haul network expansion plan at a shareholders’ meeting in Taipei, including direct flights to Barcelona, Spain, and Zurich, Switzerland, as well as a service connecting Taipei, Sydney and New Zealand. Starlux is to become the first Taiwanese carrier to offer non-stop services to the two European cities, while the inaugural oceanic route is expected to expand transit opportunities within the Australia-New Zealand market, Starlux said. Flight services to Chicago, Dallas, Washington and New York are under evaluation, the airline added. Prior to the shareholders’ meeting, the airline earlier this year announced that it would be
Intel Corp regards Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) as a longstanding partner, as the US chipmaker would continue outsourcing production of advanced chips to TSMC, Intel chief executive officer Lip-Bu Tan (陳立武) said yesterday. “I don’t look at people as competitors. I look at the collaboration... Nvidia is also, you know, a good friend,” Tan told a news conference following his keynote speech at the Computex trade show in Taipei. “It’s a very trusted partnership for us... We are a big, top customer for them, and we’re going to continue doing that,” he said, referring to TSMC, the world’s largest foundry
RSS