Here's a problem report I just sent over to ATI -- though I don't have much hope of getting any kind of response, much less a positive one. I'll see if I can force my Radeon into 1280x960 in the meantime...
The TV applet display does not maintain the proper aspect ratio when the desktop is set to 1280x1024 resolution. Radeon AIW, special-purpose 3063 drivers, MMC 7.0, WinMe.
When the TV applet preferences are set to fix the aspect ratio of the display area, apparently the program simply tries to maintain a 4:3 ratio in the pixel sizes of the rectangle. This is fine for most resolutions which have a natural 4:3 ratio themselves, but 1280x1024 has a 5:4 aspect ratio. Hence the image is distorted ("squished" vertically) when the TV applet is used in that resolution.
Furthermore, when maximizing the TV to cover the full screen, there are black bands at the top and bottom of the display. This is another symptom of the same problem. Interestingly, though, if the full-screen TV display is activated by double-clicking on the TV preview in Guide Plus+, the display does cover the whole screen properly. However, any further resizing will cause it to once again revert to incorrect proportions.
Workaround: Switch the desktop to a resolution with a 4:3 aspect ratio before using the TV applet.
Suggested solution: In the TV applet (and possibly other multimedia applets), compensate for desktop ratios other than 4:3 by multiplying pixel sizes by an appropriate factor before enforcing the aspect ratio. For example, for 1280x1024, multiply the vertical size by 16/15'ths.
Another solution: When maximizing the TV display, optionally let it switch resolutions automatically and take complete control of the display. This would also prevent the "always on top" start bar from marring the display with a grey line at the bottom of the screen.
The TV applet display does not maintain the proper aspect ratio when the desktop is set to 1280x1024 resolution. Radeon AIW, special-purpose 3063 drivers, MMC 7.0, WinMe.
When the TV applet preferences are set to fix the aspect ratio of the display area, apparently the program simply tries to maintain a 4:3 ratio in the pixel sizes of the rectangle. This is fine for most resolutions which have a natural 4:3 ratio themselves, but 1280x1024 has a 5:4 aspect ratio. Hence the image is distorted ("squished" vertically) when the TV applet is used in that resolution.
Furthermore, when maximizing the TV to cover the full screen, there are black bands at the top and bottom of the display. This is another symptom of the same problem. Interestingly, though, if the full-screen TV display is activated by double-clicking on the TV preview in Guide Plus+, the display does cover the whole screen properly. However, any further resizing will cause it to once again revert to incorrect proportions.
Workaround: Switch the desktop to a resolution with a 4:3 aspect ratio before using the TV applet.
Suggested solution: In the TV applet (and possibly other multimedia applets), compensate for desktop ratios other than 4:3 by multiplying pixel sizes by an appropriate factor before enforcing the aspect ratio. For example, for 1280x1024, multiply the vertical size by 16/15'ths.
Another solution: When maximizing the TV display, optionally let it switch resolutions automatically and take complete control of the display. This would also prevent the "always on top" start bar from marring the display with a grey line at the bottom of the screen.