Apple TV (2nd Gen) screensaver photo shuffle

Here's my workaround- once I'm tired of seeing the same 100 photos repeating again and again, then I reset the whole Apple TV unit, and re-enter in all the accounts and passwords.

Apple, please fix this. One of the reasons I bought Apple TV was to see my iPhoto library on the screen saver.

Agreed. Apple please address this issue.

Apple probably doesn't ever read these boards, you'll need to take this issue up with Apple directly. However it is typical of the often arrogant attitude of Apple to it's customers. Random photos worked perfectly with ATV1 and was in my opinion the best feature of ATV. It's been crippled with ATV2 and ATV3 right from the start and I guess Apple have no intention of fixing it. There's no money in it for Apple so they concentrate their resources where money is to be made.

Please folks take the time to send Apple Feedback directly so that the take the time to fix this. http://www.apple.com/feedback/appletv.html

I just spoke to apple TV support on this issue and it is 100% related to the Aple TV's buffer limitation. It was NOT designed to access all of your iPhoto pictures only what fit into the buffer. At this time they have no plans to fix it. Also, the group I talked to NEVER looks at this board - so consider this board as something a liberal would create, makes you feel good you did soemthing but it does nothing to solve any problems. So the only way to convice them is to send them direct feedback.

That's an interesting insight; thanks. I think this confirms what most suspected. It wasn't an issue with the hard drive-based Apple TVs, but with the current model, no hard drive results in the complaints in this thread.

I don't suppose you got any insight from them about how or when the cache gets recycled, did you?

Well I have a couple of problems with that explanation.

1) the shuffle/no repeat works on Slideshows, but not on Screen Saver. The no repeat option isn't there for Screen Saver. They should be using similar buffering/caching mechanisms and are limited by the same local storage limitiations. In fact, they should be using the same code for efficiency's sake.

2) Even if there is very little local storage, say only enough for 4 photos, they can pull in new ones without constantly repeating photos. It seems to me that it's the randomizer that's not particularly random. I'm using Photostream photos, which are already optimized versions of the photos and should download quickly.

This worked ............ great job

Yes, this seems to work for me

Just a personal pet peeve of mine: If something DOES work to alleviate a problem, PLEASE reference the solution that "seems to work for you". Quote the original instructions, or somehow help the rest of us who are trying to figure this out as well.

I am on ATV2 with the latest firmware.

I seem to have solved this now.

1. Went to the Computers -> Photos -> Photos -> Slideshow on the top right

2. Set shuffle to On, Repeat to Off, Go back

3. Screensaver on the top right beside Slideshow -> Confirm that you want to use computerxyz as your screensaver

That's it. Now after 2 mins of listening to music the screensaver shows up and surprise, its different photos from what I have been seeing for ever! It seems to be random now.

I think you'll find that you just cached a different subset images that will continue to repeat until you go through the screensaver setup process again. I don't think you're accessing your entire collection. You will likely see the new images repeating in a very short time.

computers - photos - slideshow worked for me. shuffle on - repeat off.

However some of the photos the ATV shows are in very low/poor resolution - when i know that the originals are high definition. why does it do this? can i stop it lowering the resolution on random photos....?

you are right. not perfect, but better than before.

everytime i restart itunes (from where the photos are being pulled) i think i am getting a different set

are you sure the low res ones are jpgs? i had a situation once when i was pulling raw files (.nef) and those would show up pixelated, as if in very low res