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Apple TV Photo Database

I am setting up home sharing from my Windows 11 PC to AppleTV. I set up a folder on my PC named ScreenSaver into which I copied selected photos. I have successfully linked this with the AppleTV to show the photos in that file as a screensaver on the TV. I have some questions.

  1. What is the function of the file Apple TV Photo Database on my PC?
  2. If I add new pictures to the ScreenSaver file on my PC does the screensaver on the AppleTV update automatically with the new pics?
  3. Does the AppleTV screensaver remember where it stopped on shutdown, or does it start over from the beginning when AppleTV is turned on again?
  4. I see I can change transitions and appearance time. Can I adjust randomisation or repeats?

Apple TV 4K, tvOS 15

Posted on Sep 11, 2022 5:20 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 12, 2022 6:39 AM

  1. Not sure. It is created and updated as needed for Home Sharing. It has paths to the files in it, so I think it is the actual database of valid files as used for Home Sharing of image files. Let iTunes take care of that.
  2. (a) Home Sharing (or iTunes, or the computer) needs to be restarted to include changes to the collection of shared files. That would update the database file. (b) The screen saver needs to be set again for changes to be included. That is a separate step.
  3. A fresh start of the screen saver will initiate a new randomized ordering of the same/known image set. No continuation. Not the same sequence order as before.
  4. Not sure what “adjust randomization” means or what “adjust repeats” means, but only the presented screen saver options can be set. Randomized ordering is always on for the screen saver. After the photo collection has been shown, the screen saver will repeat indefinitely, until interrupted by the user or by the ‘sleep after’ timer.
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Sep 12, 2022 6:39 AM in response to DiggerDawson

  1. Not sure. It is created and updated as needed for Home Sharing. It has paths to the files in it, so I think it is the actual database of valid files as used for Home Sharing of image files. Let iTunes take care of that.
  2. (a) Home Sharing (or iTunes, or the computer) needs to be restarted to include changes to the collection of shared files. That would update the database file. (b) The screen saver needs to be set again for changes to be included. That is a separate step.
  3. A fresh start of the screen saver will initiate a new randomized ordering of the same/known image set. No continuation. Not the same sequence order as before.
  4. Not sure what “adjust randomization” means or what “adjust repeats” means, but only the presented screen saver options can be set. Randomized ordering is always on for the screen saver. After the photo collection has been shown, the screen saver will repeat indefinitely, until interrupted by the user or by the ‘sleep after’ timer.
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Sep 12, 2022 3:22 PM in response to Urquhart1244

Thanks. Very helpful.

  1. yes. I note that starting itunes updates it.
  2. (b) By “set again” I guess you mean re-select the folder in AppleTV?
  3. and 4. The screensaver does randomisation OK, but it doesn’t appear to skip photos it has already shown. I hoped there might be setting to prevent it from repeating a photo it had already shown, at least until a restart.
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Apple TV Photo Database

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