ATV 2, bought in Germany(!), can't play PAL with 25 fps ?

pummelfee wrote:
I am not an engineer but i think those at Apple who are developing should know about the differences between PAL and NTSC.

it's not a PAL/NTSC issue.

Firstly, the issue of poor playback.

Personally I think it's your TV. I have 5 Apple tvs, some are first and some are second generation models, with four of them my 25fps content plays just fine and on those that are first generation models where I can change the output between 50 and 60 Hz, it doesn't make any difference, my content is just as good whichever I choose.

I do however have one first generation model that doesn't play 25fps content properly at 60 Hz and doesn't play 30 or 24 fps content properly at 50 Hz. I've tried the Apple tv with different tvs and different Apple tvs with the TV and confirm it only happens with this TV.

So my conclusion is it's the TV.

Secondly, about the output from the Apple TV 2.

Until recently my Apple TVs (second gen) have output at 60 Hz, so my TV tells me, but after the 4.2 update now my TVs tell me they are receiving 50 Hz. It appears that the Apple TV can output at either 50 or 60 Hz, it's just that we don't have the option to choose which is used.

Winston Churchill wrote:
Until recently my Apple TVs (second gen) have output at 60 Hz, so my TV tells me, but after the 4.2 update now my TVs tell me they are receiving 50 Hz. It appears that the Apple TV can output at either 50 or 60 Hz, it's just that we don't have the option to choose which is used.

interesting. mine is still 1280x720 @ 60Hz

"25fps can't be watched smoothly when the plasma is set to 60hz! Impossible! I can simulate that with my BD player"

?? sounds like an tv issue rather then a atv issue if your tv can't display 25fps well

and do you have the same problem with the appletv connected direct to the TV (and not via the amp).
i don't notice any of the issues you have to be honest.

pummelfee wrote:
I haven't tried that but i will try (but i dont think the avr does affect resolutions or frequencies).

they can, and often do.

I hate to say it, but most people who buy Apple stuff are fanboys who simply don't notice such shortcomings just because it's Apple and they know Apple never fails.

are you including yourself in that insult?

But when you show them the differences to other media players (which can be set to correct 50hz!)....

i've had many media players.

I think i will call Apple and look what they can do in a future update of iOS.

good luck with that !

My simple suggestion: make an option were i can change from 60hz to 50hz for playing own media. I have heard that the old ATV actually had such preferences....

yes it did

pummelfee wrote:
Its definitely NOT an issue with my Plasma TV because i actually tried two other devices (the LG BD network Player and WD TV) with the same content. WD TV and LG player can be set to 50hz wich ATV does not!

With respect that isn't proving anything except that your TV has problems with all devices when they output at 60hz. You need to test your Apple tv with other TVs, not your tv with other devices.

I said it before, I have four TVs which will show 25 fps video at 60 hz without stuttering, but I have one tv that doesn't.

It's the tv that has the problem.

Yes the Apple tv should have an option to output at either frequency, that would overcome the problem you have with your tv.

Chenks wrote:

Winston Churchill wrote:
Until recently my Apple TVs (second gen) have output at 60 Hz, so my TV tells me, but after the 4.2 update now my TVs tell me they are receiving 50 Hz. It appears that the Apple TV can output at either 50 or 60 Hz, it's just that we don't have the option to choose which is used.

interesting. mine is still 1280x720 @ 60Hz

Yes I was a little surprised when I saw it, I guess my tv is telling the Apple tv that 50 hz is it's primary frequency.

I have exactly the same problem. 25 fps judders with the 60 hz output. It is easy to verify by switching between 50 hz and 60 hz on ATV 1.

It makes sense to me. With 60 hz and 25 fps every fifth frame is repeated.

I believe it is subjective as how bad it looks. To me the judder makes the video unwatchable. But maybe not to everyone. Not everyone even notices it.

I am puzzled though as some claim that it would depend on the tv itself. Although I think ATV 2 outputs at 50 hz if the tv does not take 60 hz. It the tv accepts both 50 hz and 60 hz, ATV 2 outputs at 60.

For now I use ATV 1 to watch my (25 fps) home videos and ATV 2 for everything else. I certainly hope Apple will include the 50/60 option in future updates.

Just to repeat myself, I have five TVs and can confirm it isn't subjective, some TVs clearly play 25 fps content at 60 Hz better than others do. You can spend some time searching and reading why this is so, or just accept that it is.

pummelfee wrote:

jupasa wrote:
I am puzzled though as some claim that it would depend on the tv itself. Although I think ATV 2 outputs at 50 hz if the tv does not take 60 hz. It the tv accepts both 50 hz and 60 hz, ATV 2 outputs at 60.

Yes, i it seems that is the only logical conclusion. And Apple should know that there are MANY TVs on the market that cannot be set manually or like mine, prefers the 60hz signals.

That's not correct, if you read my posts, prior to 4.2 my Apple tv output at 60 Hz after 4.2, it outputs at 50 Hz, so clearly my TV can accept both. I'm not at all clear why it now outputs at 50 Hz, but it obviously isn't because my TV only accepts 50 Hz.