1680x1050, aspect ratio

The Apple TV will only recognise resolutions that your monitor broadcasts to the Apple TV that it can handle. If it doesn't broadcast a 16:9 resolution and have the ability to crop or letterbox there isn't much you can do.

Judging from Adjust the picture on Apple TV (4th generation) - Apple Support it looks as if you're expected to make any corrections for aspect ratio on the TV (in your case a monitor) rather than in the Apple TV. Use Apple Feedback to let Apple know that you would like control on the Apple TV itself.

tt2

tt2, that option is for adjusting the zoom whilst keeping the same AR, I believe the OP would need to adjust the AR, (which most TV's support).

The Apple TV does in fact already support different AR's, the problem is the display being used needs to support them and to broadcast them, whether the OP's display may or may not support them, it doesn't appear to broadcast them.

Yes. I suppose the monitor could be offering all of the modes it supports while not making it clear which is ideal. It might be worth visiting Settings > Audio & Video > Resolution and if it is on Auto trying some alternatives instead. If 1680x1050 is already selected there then it would seem ATV isn't handling that resolution properly.

tt2

Perhaps I misunderstood the OP, but I took it they had visited the resolution settings, where they had seen it supported 1680 x 1050.

I read it that they get an image on their monitor, as opposed to not getting one. Since the aspect ratio of the image isn't right they may not have yet selected the optimal resolution, and auto may be getting it wrong. Hopefully they will let us know.

tt2

What it should be doing (at the very least with some selectable setting) is to use letterboxing, ie. retain the aspect ratio of 16:9 (and thus leave some empty space at the top and bottom of the screen). I don't really understand why this isn't an option in the system settings.

Unfortunately that would be a job for your display. It's a function that most TV's have. The “problem” is you put it, is that you have chosen to use a computer monitor which wasn't designed to receive a TV input.

I suspect the thinking behind it is to only have one place where aspect ratio is controlled, in a similar way in which volume is controlled by the TV rather than having two volume controls interacting. Doesn't help you, but possibly keeps things at lot simpler for most people. I suggest you use the feedback option.

tt2

WarpRulez wrote:

Apple TV is seeing that the monitor is 1680x1050, and it knows that its own content is 16:9. What possible harm would there be in tvOS providing a system setting where you can choose to use aspect ratio retaining letterboxing?

Because that isn't how it works, 2 devices controlling the same settings would be a nightmare.

As it is now, it's impossible to use Apple TV with a 16:10 monitor without getting a distorted image. Yet this would be something that's very easy for tvOS to fix.

Then use a TV or a monitor that has the settings you require, it's you not Apple that chose to use your unsupported device.

I'll make this my last post on this matter.

If you had used a device which Apple have told you is compatible... (from the Apple TV tech spec page)

Then you would more than likely already have an option to change the AR. If the Apple TV did as you suggest and had an option to adjust AR, that wold be 2 devices controlling the same setting.

I'm not sure whether you really are missing the point or have just decided to be obstinate but this just doesn't happen in the real world, whether it be AR, brightness, volume or whatever you generally don't get 2 devices adjusting the same setting.

None of our opinions change facts. Use Apple TV Feedback to advocate for change. Use a TV that as has its own aspect ratio control or put up with it while you wait for a change that may never come.

tt2