When presenting a timeline using TimelinePad on a TV, whether through an HDMI connection or wirelessly via an Apple TV, you may notice that the timeline appears with black bars on the sides rather than filling the entire width of the TV screen. This happens because the timeline shown on the TV matches the exact aspect ratio of the timeline shown on the iPad screen. It is very important to only show on the TV what the TimelinePad user is seeing on their iPad so they know what the audience is seeing.
How to Maximize the Timeline Display on the TV
To make the most of the TV's widescreen display, you can adjust TimelinePad's viewing settings to increase the usable space for the timeline. The sidebar in TimelinePad contains various options and controls that are useful when interacting with the timeline but are not necessary when presenting. By using the Sidebar button, you can free up more horizontal space for the timeline, which will be reflected on the TV.
The Sidebar button in TimelinePad (in the top left corner of the user interface) allows you to choose between three different viewing modes:
- All Columns: This is the default view in TimelinePad and displays the sidebar tabs, and the options for the selected tab, such as the Event details.
- Events & Timeline: This removes the tabs and only shows the list of items for the selected tab at the time the button was pressed, and the timeline.
- Timeline Only: Maximizes the timeline display by hiding the Event list and only displaying the timeline.
By selecting Timeline Only, you eliminate unnecessary elements from the screen, making the timeline appear wider on your TV.
While these adjustments will improve the aspect ratio and allow more of your timeline to be displayed, some black bars may still remain depending on the aspect ratio of the TV due to the fundamental difference between the iPad screen and the TV's widescreen format. This ensures the TimelinePad user can see on their iPad screen what the audience is seeing even if they cannot see the TV.