White Screen Movies

The apple-tv needs one big huge reset button since it has to be reset so often. Reset to fix the white screen, reset to fix synching. Reset because it hasn't been reset for a while. I reset my appletv about once every week just to get itunes talking to it again. You'd think it was made in redmond.

Okay, this white screen of death has been an issue for over a year now. How can Apple let this go on and on? There has been several updates and done have done a thing to address this very annoying issue. Apple marketed the AppleTV to play rented HD content in a few minutes after ordering the item. I need to place my order, wait for the content to completely download and then I have to unplug the unit and wait 30 seconds to begin a reboot process. Not quite what was promised by Apple in the marketing of this product.

Has Apple completely abandoned the AppleTV as a viable product. It seems the only support it provides is to maintain the iTunes Store as an outlet for a future product. What will come of our AppleTV (I own two AppleTVs) when Apple introduces a product that works as seamlessly as it's competitors?

Okay... think I've found out the problem... was running my Apple TV, HDMI connection, through a Harman Kardon AVR-146... this model receiver is only a "pass through", meaning there is limited support for 1080p. I upgraded to a Harman Kardon AVR-354, which recognizes, and up-converts 1080p, and have had NO problems whatsoever. Looks like the Apple TV is getting confused about where the signal is going and is blocking the content. Hope this helps.

I have had this issue about 3 times, and am running my ATV though a brand new Yamaha RX-V863 receiver - all HDMI connections. I only seem to get the white screen if I use the device WHILE the movie is downloading (i.e. youTube etc.).

This happened again last night, and is very annoying. I can't get any help from Apple.

The first post in this thread goes back to Aug 2 of last year - I just had this problem again tonight, which I've had for many, many times this year. I'm replying to this particular post because of the almost comical quote by an Apple support person saying an update would be addressing this issue, and that was back almost five months ago.

There are two problems that I and the 2 others I know who own Apple TVs, and many others on this board have had for over a year now, and that is this white screen problem, and the terriblly slow download speeds. Restoring the Apple TVs to factory condition and upgrading haven't fixed either one of these issues for a year now, and it is just sad.

If these two issues went away, I'm sure they would get A LOT more people recommending them.

I have an Apple TV I bought on day one - are these two problems only happening to those who have the oldest units? Have these been corrected on the newest units?

No, I have this problem and my unit is not even 3 months old. It happened again last night, and happens every time I explore other menus while the unit is downloading. So I have to re start the unit each time this happens.

I have also found the Album Art screen saver to be buggy (doesn't work sometimes and screen just goes black), but that is for another thread.

I have this problem with most rented movies. I am surprised when it does not happen.

Has anyone found anything better than unplugging the Apple TV to fix the problem?

I hate "pulling the Plug" on any computer to reboot it, but I don't know of any other method to get the videos to show video.

I agree, most of my rentals come down as "white movies". I still haven't figured out what causes them.

However, pushing and holding the down arrow and menu on the Apple remote will restart the ATV and the white movies will be fine after the restart.

The problem I have is I use the "Remote" application on my iPhone and I don't know of a way to restart the ATV with the iPhone. So then I have to dig up the Apple remote. Unplugging and plugging is just too inconvenient.

David Colton wrote:
The problem I have is I use the "Remote" application on my iPhone and I don't know of a way to restart the ATV with the iPhone.

I don't think there is one.

Todd Sieling wrote:
The apple-tv needs one big huge reset button since it has to be reset so often. Reset to fix the white screen, reset to fix synching. Reset because it hasn't been reset for a while. I reset my appletv about once every week just to get itunes talking to it again. You'd think it was made in redmond.

So true. The Apple TV is a great idea, but is so frustratingly unreliable I could throw it out of the window.

Someone said earlier that all computers need restarting from time to time - my Mac Pro can go for months without being restarted, my Apple TV rarely goes more than a couple of days. Absolutely - it's as unreliable as something running Windows.

Thanks guys. Last night I rented the movie "Taken" and this morning I got the "white screen". Following your advice, I unplugged the Apple TV and now I'm in the midst of watching the movie. Just pausing the movie long enough to write this note. Now, back to divorced dad saves his daughter from bad guys...

I've had this problem; what I've tracked it down (at least when it occurs) to -- believe or not -- is the Digital Audio out. It seems to usually happen on a receiver with both DTS and Dolby Digital.

To reproduce, playback a file with something other than 5.1 (like a Trailer that is HD, Dolby Digital, but not 5.1) -- you will find randomly that it occasionally does not reset back to 2 channel Stereo; it instead gets "Stuck" into this mode thinking that the unit is outputting DTS, when it isn't.

When you go to playback the movie, it goes to a white screen, but cannot switch the audio. Rebooting solves the problem.

I have an Onkyo receiver in my case -- I don't know if the audio is the direct problem or more of an indication as to when it occurs. Hasn't happened yet on Apple TV 3.0 yet though.