Apple TV Overscan/Underscan Control

Question

Apple TV Overscan/Underscan Control

Hello,

I have a 2009 Dynex DX-LCD42HD-09 TV which is known to not have any video modes while using an HDMI input to adjust for overscan... Users on this page are discussing the same problem, only with different video sources, not apple TV:

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/166-lcd-flat-panel-displays/1148222-question-dynex -1080p-lcd-viewing-area.html#post16570861

Here's the thing with this TV...

The TV has 4 video modes: Normal/Wide/Zoom/Cinema. None of them correct the overscan.

The TV has an "advanced video" mode which has an option for overscan, but is only available when using VGA as an input, with a signal, and the setting does not carry over to the HDMI inputs.

Sony’s Playstation 4, for example, offers a system-wide custom screen boundary setting, which completely fixes the issue with overscan!-- Except it doesn't--- its usage is dependent on the software, and ridiculously, a lot of Sony software (such as the built-in web browser) doesn't honor the system-wide screen boundary setting. Similarly, a lot of 3rd party games (Such as Overwatch, at the time of writing this), do not honor the system screen boundary setting, so the edges are cut off.

However, video sources like Nintendo's Wii U have a system-wide underscan setting which is used globally on the system. This ensures perfect video output on my screen and I can see everything the device is outputting to my display.

This brings me to Apple TV. I was hoping that the Apple TV, like every Mac, would offer an adjustable Under/Overscan option to scale the video output to my TV. However, the only option appears to be when using AirPlay... and even then, when playing back full-screen video through AirPlay, it overscans beyond the boundary of the TV.

Apple TV needs a scalable video output option, just like the Mac has. I cannot see the entire display using my TV, and it’s such a nuisance to use because of this.

Are there any fixes out there??

Overscan example on AG Drive:

Another example on the video calibration page, even though the "minimum" boundary is setting... things are still cut off.

When using AirPlay Mirroring, there is no screen cut off due to the "AirPlay Underscan" option set to "ON"... why can't this be global?!

Apple TV (4th generation), tvOS 9.2.1

Posted on Jul 6, 2016 3:44 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Jul 6, 2016 6:11 PM in response to Chris Fitzgerald

Yes you are correct the Apple TV lacks the ability to adjust for such situations, it is unable to cope with TV's that automatically overscan. Although there is an argument to say that the developer of apps that suffer because of this are at fault because they fail to observe traditional screen safe areas.

If you have any suggestions that you think might enhance the Apple TV you can send Apple your feedback here

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Answer 2

Jul 7, 2016 4:02 AM in response to Chris Fitzgerald

Just observing, you show the ATV calibration screen with only the Minimum outline visible. The Full Screen outline is outside of it. This just confirms your observation regarding overscan on your TV. Are you sure that, when the TV receives 1080p, there is no "just scan" or "1 to 1" mode that displays the full 1080x1920 pixels?

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Answer 3

Jul 7, 2016 4:07 AM in response to Chris Fitzgerald

I'm afraid you won't get a response from Apple here, this community is moderated by Apple employees and occasionally community specialists will refer users to Apple's knowledge based articles but Apple won't comment on this type of discussion.

You are correct again a number of people have mentioned this particular problem, I myself have it on one of my TV's. It's aTV that is a bit older than all the rest (I don't have this problem with my other TV's) so perhaps it's a problem that mainly afflicts those of us with older TV's.

It isn't a problem with the earlier Apple TV's (1, 2 & 3), but Apple had a hand in what apps went onto those TV's so maybe it more a case that overscan wasn't noticeable rather than it didn't occur. If you look at the Apple TV 4 you'll find the problem is only obvious in a small number of apps and actually anyone who knows their onions about video should be aware of standard safe zones for titling and action, so it isn't as though it couldn't have been avoided during the development of the app.

Actually my TV does have a zoom setting but it will only let me set it to 100% or above and not below.

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Answer 4

Rysz

Level 8

44,443 points

Jul 6, 2016 3:56 PM in response to Chris Fitzgerald

Apple TV sends the correct video signal. It seems to me, it's up to the TV set to display it properly.

To provide feedback directly to Apple, use this link: http://www.apple.com/feedback/

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Answer 5

Jul 6, 2016 6:15 PM in response to Winston Churchill

I've submitted feedback, but I'd like a response from the Apple TV team on this, since I'm not the only user experiencing this... It just doesn't seem very "Apple-y"

Thank you for the response!

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