App to use the AppleTV like Samsung's "The Frame"

[bob99]

I'm trying to find an app to turn the display connected to an AppleTV into a digital frame.

I realize that you can share iCloud photos on the screen saver, but there's very limited control. I'd like it so the photo changes every 15-20 minutes, so it's subtle and not going like an actual slide show. I just want a very subtle dissolve effect between photos, the apple options all have a lot of motion. It would also be great if it could add a simulated matte to the photos, to make them seem like an actual mounted picture.

Is anyone using an app for this purpose? Is there a hack to add more functionality to the Apple screen saver? The big advantage of the screen saver is that you can make it automatically start, I don't think that's possible with a 3rd party app.

Please save me from buying one of the Samsung Frame TV's! I'd much rather get a higher quality OLED and use the AppleTV as the photo source.

Thanks in advance for any help with this issue.

 

[bluespark]

I'm trying to find an app to turn the display connected to an AppleTV into a digital frame.

I realize that you can share iCloud photos on the screen saver, but there's very limited control. I'd like it so the photo changes every 15-20 minutes, so it's subtle and not going like an actual slide show. I just want a very subtle dissolve effect between photos, the apple options all have a lot of motion. It would also be great if it could add a simulated matte to the photos, to make them seem like an actual mounted picture.

Is anyone using an app for this purpose? Is there a hack to add more functionality to the Apple screen saver? The big advantage of the screen saver is that you can make it automatically start, I don't think that's possible with a 3rd party app.

Please save me from buying one of the Samsung Frame TV's! I'd much rather get a higher quality OLED and use the AppleTV as the photo source.

Thanks in advance for any help with this issue.

You wouldn't want to display a static image for long on an OLED, because that technology is unusually susceptible to screen burn-in. I've experienced that with even a newer OLED TV, and it isn't fun.

That said, the display quality of the Samsung Frame TV's is actually pretty good for most purposes. It certainly doesn't spec out the same way an OLED would, especially with blacks and motion, but it's perfectly satisfying for a room that isn't a home theater (which is probably your room, given the interest in a frame-like look). As a bonus, you can buy additional frame pieces from Samsung which really help trick you into thinking of it as a framed picture. I'm a fan.

And I know, you wanted us to talk you out of the Frame TV. Sorry -- couldn't help myself.

 

[Logan in LA]

I've had my Samsung Frame for a few years, and will be searching for the same sort of solution as the OP when it's time to replace it. The Frame TV looks much better on the wall than any other TV I've ever had. The displayed art (I use a selection of my own rather arty travel photos) looks great and the mattes are super-convincing. And I love the OneConnect box, which keeps the fiddly connections off the back edge of the screen and in a cabinet along with the other AV equipment. But it's been very tricky to get any new images onto the thing, and the automatic image change feature has never worked for me, whether I set it to 15 minutes or a whole day. I have to change it manually. Finally, I do find myself wishing for the perfect blacks of OLED—despite its price the Frame is far from Samsung's best screen, even among its non-OLED offerings.

 

[TimGoodwin14]

I have a Samsung Qled from 2019 that also has the option to display art like the Frame TV. Most likely any newer Samsung TV will have this feature.

 

[bluespark]

I have a Samsung Qled from 2019 that also has the option to display art like the Frame TV. Most likely any newer Samsung TV will have this feature.

It's not really the same thing, though. The Frame TV automatically displays art when it isn't being used for TV. It adjusts the brightness as needed to looks as convincingly non-screen as possible. It also uses a light sensor to turn off the screen at night, for example if used in a bedroom. Also, don't underestimate the visual effect of the frame (optional magnetic add-ons that attach to the Frame TV and can give you the choice of several frame styles) and the display surface itself.

 

[ignatius345]

I'm trying to find an app to turn the display connected to an AppleTV into a digital frame.

I realize that you can share iCloud photos on the screen saver, but there's very limited control. I'd like it so the photo changes every 15-20 minutes, so it's subtle and not going like an actual slide show.

The one way you might be able to game this is by setting up an album with multiple copies of the same image.

I just want a very subtle dissolve effect between photos, the apple options all have a lot of motion. It would also be great if it could add a simulated matte to the photos, to make them seem like an actual mounted picture.

I'm actually wondering if the best way to do this would be to set up a Keynote presentation and AirPlay it from a Mac or iDevice of some kind. You could customize all kinds of stuff (transitions, simulated mattes, etc).

Also, not sure if this is possible, but maybe you could set up the deck in Keynote as above, but then export as a video, and add that to iCloud Photos. Does it play videos? This would get you out of having to tie up another device and set the thing playing manually.

 

[chadamorrill]

Wow, you ask, Apple delivers... or.... something like that We'll have to see what options we get this fall when the new tvOS releases, with it's "memories" photo screensaver.

 

[philotas]

Is there any cool trick/workaround to have an iCloud Album synced automatically to The Frame (2022) - without using - or manually opening the Samsung Smart Things App?

 

[cariacou]

This is a great topic, and exactly what I’m looking for.
Unfortunately even with tvOS18, and the latest 2024 Samsung Frame TV, it doesn’t seem like any of the concerns listed here have been fixed. Mainly:

1. tvOS iCloud Photos screensaver seems hardcoded to 5s (no options to change, including desired 1min or 20min settings)
2. Samsung frame TV does not have any native iCloud Photos integration for its screensaver (therefore, no ambiant dimming/auto on/off)

It seems there are 2 other competitor to the frame:
- TCL NXTFRAME
- Hisense CanvasTV
I wonder if these could address item #2 above