Apple Tv's Airport Screensaver: A Travel Inspiration

Apple TV's screensaver features a recorded overhead view of a large, active airport, with moving planes. The screensaver is part of the 'Aerials' category, which also includes other themes that users can choose from. The airport in the screensaver is speculated to be Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), specifically the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). While the method used to capture the footage is uncertain, it is believed to have been shot from a helicopter, rather than a drone, due to the difficulty of obtaining permission for drone flights in that area.

LAX Apple TV screensaver

The Apple TV screensaver features an aerial view of the LAX airport, which is one of the initial six screensavers that came with the Apple TV released in 2015. The footage captures the terminal area of the airport, with moving planes, but not the active runways. It is speculated that the video was shot from a helicopter in slow motion and then sped up to make it appear smoother.

To view the location of an Aerial screen saver on your Apple TV, tap the Touch surface on your Apple TV Remote while the location is playing. You can also change the category of your screensaver by swiping up or pressing up on the clickpad or touch surface, then selecting the desired category. If you have an Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or later), you can choose between Aerials, Snoopy, Memories & Slideshows, and Portraits.

To manage storage on your Apple TV and make space for more screensavers, go to Settings > General > Manage Storage. You can also change your screensaver settings to download new ones daily, weekly, or monthly.

Drone vs helicopter

The Apple TV screensaver features a recorded overhead view of a large, active airport with moving planes. While some have speculated that the footage was captured by a drone, others have suggested that it was more likely taken by a helicopter.

Drone enthusiasts have questioned how Apple obtained the footage, given the challenges of obtaining permission to fly a drone over an airport due to NFZ (No-Fly Zone) restrictions. However, it is possible for drone pilots to obtain waivers and fly over airports with the appropriate licenses and cooperation from air traffic control (ATC). Some have also suggested that Apple may have licensed the footage from a third party, such as the FAA, military, or a government contractor.

On the other hand, helicopter enthusiasts have pointed out that helicopter tours are commonly available over airports, and it may be easier to obtain permission for helicopter footage than drone footage in such locations. Helicopters can also mount specialized gear and have more flexibility in terms of flying directly over an airport compared to drones.

Apple has confirmed that they used both drones and helicopters to film their screensavers in various locations, including San Francisco, New York City, London, Hawaii, and the Great Wall of China. However, they have not provided specific details on which screensavers were captured by drones or helicopters. The screensavers are designed to be dynamic, with day and night shots changing based on the user's local time.

Overall, while the Apple TV screensaver could have been captured by either a drone or a helicopter, the likelihood of it being a helicopter is higher due to the easier permissions and flexibility in flying over an airport compared to a drone.

Apple TV screensaver activation

The Apple TV screensaver can be activated manually or automatically. When Apple TV is idle, you can view stunning aerial videos, see your favourite people, places, pets, and memories, or watch Snoopy and Woodstock.

To activate the screensaver manually, go to the Apple TV Home Screen and navigate to the left-most app icon in the top row, then press. While in an app, press the menu button repeatedly until the screensaver activates.

You can also press the Menu button from the homepage to immediately turn on the screensaver. While the screensaver is active, you can switch to another screensaver category by swiping up or pressing up on the clickpad or touch surface and then selecting the category you want. You can also change the category in Settings under Screen Saver.

To activate the screensaver automatically, you can use a shortcut. This will wake up the specified Apple TV and then activate the built-in Screen Saver feature to display ambient scenes instead of the Home Screen.

Apple TV screensaver personalisation

Apple TV screensavers can be personalised to include photos, music, and videos. The Aerial screensaver, which includes helicopter and drone footage of cities, landscapes, and other scenic views, is the default option for the fourth-generation Apple TV. However, users can switch to a more personalised screensaver by using pictures from their Photo Library or album art from their Apple Music library.

To personalise your screensaver on Apple TV, go to Settings, then select General, followed by Screen Saver, and then Type. Here, you can choose from various options, including Aerial, Apple Photos, My Photos, Home Sharing, and My Music. It is important to note that the My Photos option can only be used to create shared photo albums into a screensaver. If you want to use your entire photo library, you can select the Apple Photos option or set up Home Sharing.

Using the Home Sharing option, you can share images, albums, and even videos from your Photos app or a specific folder to your Apple TV. You can also choose to share photos of only specific people. Additionally, you can send album art, audiobook cover art, and pictures from your computer to Apple TV if you have Home Sharing set up.

For music lovers, the Music Albums option under the Screen Saver settings allows you to display album art from your Apple Music library as your screensaver. You can also choose a transition style to personalise it further.

Another way to personalise your Apple TV screensaver is by creating a photo screensaver using Memories or albums from your Photos app. You can choose to include all photo memories or only your favourite ones. Similarly, you can create a screensaver from a photo album by selecting the Albums option and choosing your desired album.

Apple TV screensaver themes

Apple TV screensavers have been capturing the attention of many, with their stunning visuals and intriguing content. One of the most talked-about screensavers is the one featuring an overhead view of a large, bustling airport. The screensaver, which first appeared in 2015, showcases moving planes and gives viewers a bird's-eye perspective of the airport's operations. While some have speculated that it was captured by a drone, others attribute it to a helicopter flying over the airport and capturing the footage in slow motion, later speeding it up for a smoother appearance.

Apple TV offers a range of screensaver themes to cater to different preferences. One popular theme is "Aerials," which includes breathtaking visuals of various locations around the globe, from underwater scenes to cityscapes and landscapes. Within the Aerials theme, users can choose to show or hide specific sub-themes like "Cityscape," "Earth," "Underwater," and "Landscape." The "Earth" sub-theme, for instance, treats viewers to shots captured from the International Space Station.

Personalization is a key aspect of Apple TV screensavers. Users can opt for "Portraits," which showcases the best photos of people, pets, nature, or cities from their photo libraries with a stylized clock overlay. The "Memories & Slideshows" theme allows users to create screensavers from their photo memories or albums, including their favorite photos and recently shared images. Additionally, the "Music Albums" option within this theme displays a collection of album art from the user's Apple Music library.

For those seeking variety, Apple TV offers the option to switch between different screensavers. Users can choose between themes like "Snoopy," "Memories & Slideshows," and "Portraits," available on Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or later). The "Photos" app also enables users to view their memories or albums as screensavers, providing a more personalized experience. Furthermore, users can manage their storage to accommodate the number of Aerials they want, by going to Settings > General > Manage Storage.

Frequently asked questions