Apple TV (2nd Gen) screensaver photo shuffle

Looks to me like there is a Photo Database created in the iPhoto Library when you set up screen saver on the ATV2

Location
iPhoto Library->iPod Photo Cache->Photo Database

This file gets copied to the ATV2 and the screen saver images are served up from this database. It seems that it is not taking all of the photos from iPhoto and putting them in this database.

I have deleted this database with the ATV screen saver on and the same 50 images keep rotating. At this point i do not think there is an end user fix for this problem. The fix must come from apple in the form of a software update.


lets hope it is fixed soon

I'm having the same issue with the screen saver, and am very disappointed with this LOF in Gen2! This is one of the best features of the device. It's the thing that stops people in their tracks when they see it for the first time. Apple: please fix this!! Like many other here I have submitted feedback on this issue.

I'm still hoping for a fix. Disappointed in my "upgrade" as far as the screensaver goes.

Cant beleive this simply functionality does not work. I'm having the same issue and can confirm that it keeps using the same photos over and over again, no matter what you select. It will show some new photos but never even shows 40% of the whole album.

How the heck did they mess this up? I'm calling them tomorrow to hopefully get an answer.

Mark me down as another person who is dissapointed with the way the screen saver is handled. I have thousands of pictures in my library but only get to see the first few with the screen saver - sometimes even with the same picture multiple times on the screen.

This appears to now have self-corrected for me. Perhaps it was iTunes 10.1 that remedied the situation? Anyone else now seeing their later-vintage photos appearing? Hopefully the fix sticks!

JeffinNY,
No improvement here with iTunes 10.1. It appears to me that Apple caches only a small number of photos in RAM as not to constantly stream photos across the WiFi network.

I can force ATV to fetch a new batch of photos by reselecting my Aperture album, but never caches more than ~100 to 200 photos out of an album with ~3000 photos.

How many photos do you have in your screensaver album?

Dave

Any fix to this with today's update?

I tried this right after the update and I had the same issue of repeating photos, but I noticed that when I selected my album on the atv it displayed a progress indicator next to "photos". If I waited for the indicator to complete the screen saver no longer would show repeats. 20 minutes now and no issues 🙂

Great! Can't wait to try this

Yes!! This problem appears to be solved! Anyone else still having problems after the 4.1 ATV update? All my photos from the selected album seem to be displaying (and appear to be in random order) just like on the original ATV.

Dave

Yes, this seems to be fixed. Still quite a lot of repetition, but that used to happen on the first generation ATV too. It DOES seem to be choosing photos from my whole collection - thanks Apple!

Yep, fixed! Great to have my screensaver back. 🙂

While it does seem to be pulling from my entire library, it does seem to be repeating the same photos more frequently than Apple TV Gen1. Say it buffers 500 photos, as it moves to buffer new photos, it must continue to re-use the photos that still remain in the buffer. Not sure.

Anyone else noticing the same issue?

I don't necessarily have a problem with the shuffling, but I did have a question about the caching. Using my ATV2 and streaming a radio feed currently. Now my laptop and itunes is closed, but the photos screensaver still started up and showing images, and from what I can tell a good portion of everything I had shared. Just wondering how much is actually cached on the ATV2? Otherwise even though my stuff is closed (not powered off, just sleeping), does ATV2 wake up my machine and access the files? If so... I'm both pleasantly surprised and kind of upset at the same time. Since I don't always leave my computer plugged in this can obviously give me battery problems. Wonder if anyone else has noticed this?