Apple TV tvOS 18.2 Ultrawide Scope Screen Support | Is It Any Good? | How's It Work?

[@Tulipo08]

Gotta give it to Apple. Can’t believe they are catering to projectors. This is awesome.

[@Techthusiasm]

I agree, it's really cool to see something like this. Especially if it means more catering to us is coming!

[@jmichaelyu]

@@Tulipo08 i agree. It’s amazing. I guess it’s also because more and more if not most movies are now in 21:9/widescreen.

[@lo_fye]

I wonder if the newest (or upcoming) Apple TVs with their CPUs, GPUs, and NPUs could eventually replace a MadVR Envy by including auto-stretch/compress/black bar removal, AI upscaling, dynamic tone-mapping, judder removal, and colour and picture calibration and management. The trick would be for Apple to do it in a way that only presents a very simple interface to the user. It should "Just Work".

[@Techthusiasm]

I think they could do some of these things for sure, especially if they power up an Apple TV into a Pro model. The only downside to that is all that processing will only work for the video signal coming out of the Apple TV itself.

[@rodneykeller869]

I’m very curious if the ATv can move the subtitles into the active screen area. Thanks!

[@TylerDarlington]

Can’t we just get 21:9 aspect ratio support without the squeeze? Or does it already exist if you just plug the Apple TV into an ultrawide monitor?

[@Techthusiasm]

No, they need to add a letterbox option.

[@RONderluck]

Apple TV does not support ultrawide monitors. Nice try.!

[@TylerDarlington]

@@Techthusiasm I think I figured it out, but need to verify. With ultrawide monitors you have to go to the very end list of formats, so say 3440x1440, and then go to aspect ratio and select 21:9. I’ll check tomorrow but I do think there is a way to do digital anamorphic.

[@Techthusiasm]

It still won't for that monitor unless the monitor has an anamorphic compression. This feature really isn't built for flat panels. It's built for projectors with anamorphic lens. All you'll get on your monitor is a center squished image.

[@RONderluck]

@@Techthusiasm Apple TV 4K does support ultrawide monitors at 21:9. However the resolution is limited to 3840x1080. Tried it on my 49 ultrawide and it works. However black bars on the sides are present.

[@newelementdesigns]

iOS developer here. The Disney hero artwork will probably be a new required/optional artwork from the content owner. Now, Apple could apply a blur around the artwork to fill in the sides if the optional artwork is not there to support the ratio, but time will tell after beta.

[@jeremybartlow11]

Will the Envy accept a 4096x2160 DCI 4K input? You may have to go straight from the AppleTV into your projector which will accept a 4096x2160 4k signal.

[@VividTheater]

Good to see what’s on the way! Glad to see Apple adding this. Thanks for showing this! Maybe in the future Apple will venture into video processing with inputs for other devices on future Apple TV devices.

[@Techthusiasm]

I think it's a good thing to see a feature like this. It means they are thinking high end home theater.

[@gilbertrenebogaert2316]

Good video! I see your video format is 4K HDR and I remember you said some time ago it should be 4K SDR. Is there a change in your setup for Apple TV? Good a Nice day and hope to see some new video’s soon.

[@Techthusiasm]

In the theater, I run the ATV UI at 4K, HDR10, 24Hz, 4:2:2 which results in 0 black screen sync times when I play a 4K HDR movie.

[@gilbertrenebogaert2316]

@ Thanks for your info. I have a 4K Dolby Vision TV and runs the 4K SDR setting 4:2:2. Should I change to HDR or has this setting also something to do with the location (EU versus US)?

[@Techthusiasm]

There's no single answer, really. I'd need to know your display and setup and what kind of content you usually watch.

[@gilbertrenebogaert2316]

@ 4K ULTRA HD/HDR Bright Panel Plus from Panasonic, Apple TV 4K, Denon Soundbar & Sub, current settings Apple TV: structure 4K SDR, HDMI YCbCr, Chroma 4:2:0, Dolby Atmos. Runs on eARC, 3840x2160/24Hz/Dolby Vision for Apple TV+ & Disney & Prime & Netflix & Max. Hope this is sufficient.

[@Techthusiasm]

I would increase the chroma. Whether you run the menu and base setting in SDR or HDR is really just up to you. Do you care about HDR for screen saver and visualizations? Do you watch more SDR or HDR content?

[@DoubleO7-11]

wonder how stable this will be for movies that have changing aspect ratios (e.g. IMAX scenes, etc.) 🤔

[@Techthusiasm]

It would work just fine, perhaps I can show that. It should always process within the resolution/display space per the setting.

[@newelementdesigns]

Now if we can only get audio pass-thru

[@Techthusiasm]

For sure!

[@mattnelson1366]

THIS --^^^ 100%

[@BarcelonasHotCrowd]

Never gonna happen. We have to move on from this. It's designed to work with the Apple Eco-system.

[@maxherman11]

@@BarcelonasHotCrowd Yes but Apple understands that 95% of people have an Atmos system that is not HomePods. My guess is if/when they enable pass through, they will tout it as a feature with Apple TV+ and it will then be an OS feature from that, but they will market it with their own service. Just my two cents

[@marcosdellavalle2309]

Always good content ! Great work!😊

[@Techthusiasm]

Thanks!

[@DavidSusiloUnscripted]

DCI 4K is also called 17:9, also known as IMAX ratio.

[@Techthusiasm]

Not really IMAX, right. DCI 4K is for 4096 x 2160 resolution. I run this to my projector from the madVR because JVC supports that full resolution.

[@mancerrss]

Can you try the seemingly new Apple Music Sing feature inside Apple Music, where some tech KZbinrs claimed in tvOS 18.2 they also now support Karaoke Mic wirelessly, using your own iPhone. I haven't seen any KZbinrs demo this feature yet. You should be the first

[@rmangoba]

Very good video! Thanks! I have a 2.40:1 screen with a madVR Envy. I don't have an anamorphic lens. It seems that I should then set the aspect ratio setting in Apple TV to 2.40:1? I also have a Kaleidescape. I wish Apple TV works like Kaleidescape's UI. I never had to mess with profiles before.... I do like how the UI elements (when you press pause for example) show up within the image. But seems the video zooms in and out for a second or so. Hope this is fixed for official release. I hope subtitles show up within the image now.

[@Techthusiasm]

No, if you don't have a lens, then you wouldn't use this feature. The feature would mess up the image without a lens.

[@israelverchik7717]

Unfortunately, your setup is using 2 products e.g. Madvr and anamorphic lens which are squeezing your picture into the screen and Madvr does black bar detection as well. The right way and most likely for many people who are just using zoom lens is to check whether the Apple TV is doing black bar detection and making sure the picture stays within the screen area and never “lights up “ the lower and upper part outside the screen; basically a “poor’s man” Madvr/ anamorphic lens.

[@Techthusiasm]

I'll do a follow-up most likely with the madVR out of the video chain. In my experience so far though, this feature is not for people using zooming to fill scope screens. It's built to process the image for a lens.

[@israelverchik7717]

@ Hi, thank you for your response. I went back to your video and carefully read the message on ATV screen setup; it doesn’t say you must have an anamorphic lens. Here is the note from ATV in full: “Apple TV can detect the best aspect ratio for your television or projector. If you have an anamorphic lens or your television's aspect ratio is not detected, you can choose a different aspect ratio here.” Many thanks 🙏

[@Techthusiasm]

The feature is really built to be used with a lens though, as it is right now.

[@we8463]

Useless if you don’t have a MADVR and an Anamorphic Lens! I have a JVC RS-4200 and use the zoom memory which works great for me!

[@Techthusiasm]

Yeah, they need a letterbox mode for people that zoom.

[@guillermomartin8248]

So just so I'm not going crazy over here... If I don't have an anamorphic lens or a video processor, only my JVC NZ8 + Apple TV I cannot and should not use anything other than the 16:9 automatic aspect ratio.

[@Techthusiasm]

Correct, you would not use this feature. Leave it to 16:9 especially assuming you have a 16:9 screen.

[@guillermomartin8248]

@@Techthusiasm thanks! Well I have a 2.35 screen but assume it would still stay 16:9 aspect from ATV.

[@Eloom123]

In future videos I’m curious to hear how this new setting impacts the MadVRs ability to upscale the image

[@crazydwarfer]

I could always do that on an HTPC/KODI. However, I don't see the benefit here. I mean, if you just zoom the picture to take all the screen space, then, you just cutting the frame from sides or or heights. How is that good?

[@Techthusiasm]

It's not the same. You're not understanding the entirety of having anamorphic lens means on a wider screen and what this kind of processing is for. It isn't zooming up the image and losing information off the screen.

[@jastorino]

Alright! This will be a welcome addition when I get my MadVR hopefully

[@Techthusiasm]

The feature is only usable if you use a lens.

[@jastorino]

I see that now after watching the full video. Bummer…they should have implemented this with letterboxing like you said

[@Techthusiasm]

Letterboxing needs to be a mode, for sure.

[@paulc5389]

Could you remove the madVR from the chain completely then check how it behaves? It's not possible to be sure which device (apple TV or madVR) is doing what here, especially black bar detection and zoom. How does the apple TV handle other aspect ratios such as 16:9 without the madVR? Is it doing CIH itself or was that the madVR? Also how does it handle subtitles WITHOUT the madVR? Apps like Netflix like to put part of the subtitles in the black bar area. Does the apple TV just not show it? Change the picture to show it like madVR does? Or somehow separates them and displays them higher? It's great they're adding this for home theater but if they're going to cater to that use case they also need to add in full uncompressed audio pass through too. Otherwise you'll still need something like a Zidoo for your own movie collections which seems stupid. Although is the apple TV even full Dolby Vision profile 7 pass through capable anyway? If the apple TV is doing CIH without the madVR that's pretty big as most people won't need to waste a fortune on a madVR to do it. And if it's possible on such low power equipment hopefully kaleidoscape can pull their fingers out and do CIH too without the need for external processing.

[@Techthusiasm]

Main thing to keep in mind here is the feature is basically just an anamorphic processor. The madVR when anamorphic is off isn't interfering with what the ATV is doing. But I will try to get a follow up video out.

[@paulc5389]

@@Techthusiasm appreciated. It's more I couldn't tell exactly what the apple was or wasn't doing because if there was anything it wasn't doing then the madVR was doing it instead. I partially suspected the apple actually is doing CIH here as when you pause a 16:9 image the UI is wider than 16:9 and the image doesn't get distorted. If so great. If not fair enough lol. Though I'm definitely curious to see how it handles those subtitles and if it somehow moves them up without changing the image like madVR does how it's achieving such wizardry.

[@scottdarnell9584]

I have an NZ8 with Panamorph lens. 2:35 screen. Are you saying, not to engage the Panamorph setting in the JVC and let Apple handle it. Thanks

[@Techthusiasm]

I'm not sure that I recommend that yet, but it is possible to do that now. It also depends on if the ATV is your only source or not. Because all sources need anamorphic processing, so even if the ATV does its own, then the other devices need it still.

[@scottdarnell9584]

Yes, got it👍 I have 3 sources, so for the others, I would have to put it into Anamorphic C on the JVC

[@DavidM-pd9oi]

Does it fix resolution switching in movies like Interstellar?

[@Techthusiasm]

What are you thinking when you say "fix"? If you mean take it away or obscure it, no.

[@DavidM-pd9oi]

Sorry for confusion but meant when it changes ratio/resolution if we have pj set to scope, when it flicks to 16:9 it would appear above and below screen and then flick back. I think this is how it currently is unless you have madvr or lumagen?

[@Techthusiasm]

You can never go higher than the vertical resolution of your panel, but anamorphic processing serves to make use of those upper and lower pixels that would be black depending on the content by stretching material into that space and then a lens squishes it back down/out. If you have a scope/anamorphic set up properly set, nothing will ever go above or below the screen.

[@RONderluck]

It’s not the resolution switching it’s the aspect ratio, duh

[@jmichaelyu]

Looks like Apple is doing it right ONLY IN THEIR OWN TV APP and not yet in the Home Screen. The apps on the appletv like Netflix and Disney+ and Prime video also have to catch up and update their apps to support this. It’s great I don’t have to keep switching aspect ratios anymore depending on the movie. -only in the TV App and movies I buy from Apple though.

[@Techthusiasm]

Disney+ played fine with it, per the video. I'll be making a follow up shortly.

[@TS-ex4dl]

Improvement on my uk oled filmaker setting dolby 50hz

[@gsotelo1053]

In your opinion, how close do you think we are to lossless audio for movies on Apple TV? Do you think it will happen? I’m considering a Kaleidscape but I don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on something that might be obsolete in a year or two. Then again Apple may never give us lossless audio quality for movies

[@Techthusiasm]

I have no idea. I wait and hope for this every year, and every year it doesn't come. It could legit be never. I'm happy I spent the last several years with K vs. not, and I'm content to stay invested with K until Apple boosts audio and video quality. So, that's where I stand. I'm not getting any younger to wait for stuff. :) If you want to discuss directly, reach out to me at [e-mail]. Happy to chat and see what I can do for you with a V.

[@BarcelonasHotCrowd]

It's never going to happen. If anything, it would have happened in late 2017 when the 4K DV iTunes Store launched. If anything, we are going to get far far better compression using AI in the very near future.

[@gsotelo1053]

Thank you I might go the Kaleidscape route. On a separate note, something I’m finding interesting is movies that are released in DTS X don’t have a Dolby atmos counterpart on digital. They just play at 5.1. Like Halloween 2018. I have it on disk with DTS X and digital in 4k with 5.1. But I just noticed Netflix has it in Dolby Atmos. Why is my 4k copy on iTunes only in 5.1 and Netflix has it in Atmos? This isn’t the only movie either. Fast and Furioud 6 is another DTS movie on disc and 5.1 on iTunes but Netflix has it in Atmos. Are they cutting deals to get remixes just for their platform?

[@Techthusiasm]

There is a mess of formats out there between disc and digital, sometimes. It's all on the studios and their processes for what they release where. Ping me whenever you want to discuss the K or other upgrades.

[@chandan6119]

with madvr and anamorphic lens in the chain. this video is not much of use for many viewers. please do a video without madvr and anamorphic lens.

[@Techthusiasm]

To clarify, you need a lens to use this feature. It is designed to do anamorphic processing for different screen sizes instead of having the projector or video processor do it. I'll see what I can do though for a follow-up video. Thanks!

[@Davek2sb]

I downloaded 18.2 beta but the aspect ration setting isn’t showing up. Any idea why?

[@Techthusiasm]

Did you get the developer beta? It just showed up for me, no extra action needed.

[@RockStar-xs2fq]

@@Techthusiasm I am also on the exact same build as shown in the video (dev.beta) but it does not show up either!!! Apple TV 4K 2021

[@mileshigher]

Im in the same boat, upgraded to the dev beta 18.2 but no aspect ratio option showing. Guess I’ll have to wait till prime time. I’m running a ATV 4k 2nd Gen.

[@theok9665]

Such a bummer that it only can be used with a lens. Also not logical at all to do this in a source device. I also have the Envy + NZ8 and this new feature doesn’t add anything. I assumed it would work like the 21:9 options from other mediaplayers.

[@jss8617]

I have a 2.35:1 screen and a motorized anamprphic lens. heres my thoughts so far. because its beta, im hoping there is some added capability coming, because in its current form, its pretty useless if you have a projector with lens memory and/or a motorized anamorphic lens. - it only works on the content from the Apple Apps. it doesnt work with Netflix, Prime, Plex etc. -It doesnt work on shifting aspect ratio films, such as Top Gun Maverick

[@Techthusiasm]

Oh, I need to try more apps then. It worked fine when I played content from Disney+. I expected it was a system level setting that should just apply to everything being displayed.

[@alibobby33]

I dont see any on my Apple TV aspect option

[@leonminervini2190]

Same here. Must be a developer beta release only

[@Techthusiasm]

It's developer beta, yes.

[@Davek2sb]

I have the beta and it’s still not showing up.

[@israelverchik7717]

@@Davek2sbyou have to be a registered Apple developer in order to get the developer beta version to show on your beta choices on Apple TV plus Xcode!

[@emmanueldiaz2163]

Will this ever be release for everyday users ?

[@mancerrss]

Why not just develop the whole tvOS and all of it's UI support tvOS This aspect ratio jumping behavior is not very like them tbh. They have to fix this in the next tvOS WWDC release. This experience is too buggy

[@j-ho234]

Is anyone else wondering why they still have the old tv show and movie app?

[@Techthusiasm]

Yeah, I don't get that either. They should just remove them. It is just clutter now.

[@j-ho234]

@ right? lol

[@hordurpals]

Unfortunate that this wont be useful for those using zoom for their 2:35 screens

[@Techthusiasm]

Yes, it needs a letterbox option.

[@jmichaelyu]

Consider removing the MadVR from your chain when testing the AppleTV’s new aspect ratio feature. I don’t have a madVR and it’s pretty smooth. No random snapping that your madVR does.

[@jmichaelyu]

Very useful video though. Took me awhile to figure out til I saw your tip to watch for the time/profile photo. 😂😂 thanks so much!

[@Techthusiasm]

The madVR isn't random snapping. It's doing black bar detection. I will record another version of this video, I think, without the madVR in it.

[@ericspalacio]

, I wonder if Apple is simply trying to give people with regular TVs, a hybrid racial to have that extra widescreen information for their regular TVs. I do wonder too if using more than one and amorphic ratio will make that look unnatural, I would think that Apple is trying to do this so other anamorphic methods don’t have to be used. 6:41

[@Techthusiasm]

No, that's not what it is for, at least with the current settings. It's really only for high end theater installs with anamorphic lens.

[@kwinders]

If you set your resolution to 4K SDR, the menus will pop better and SDR content will look better. With the setting for match content on like it is, when there is HDR content or Dolby Vision content, the Apple TV will automatically change its output to match. You might experiment and see what you think. The settings I use are based on HTV Test KZbin channel.

[@Techthusiasm]

I've made my own videos on this topic. I run the ATV in the theater in 4K HDR for specific zero black screen sync reasons. It's awesome for this room where projectors generally have very slow HDMI sync compared to TVs.

[@JLRJ]

Thanks!🧑🏾‍🦲