Just an idea for implementing more playback options: subtitles etc.

[crjeong]

One of the downsides of Apple's products being so simple and easy to use, is that we miss out on some of the more advanced(?) features.

I thought this could be a good way of implementing subtitles, secondary audio tracks, scene selection etc on the AppleTV.

As we all know, currently when playing back a movie, if you press the menu button the movie stops and returns to the movies/tvshows menu list.

But hypothetically speaking, what if you paused the movie first then pressed menu? Perhaps Apple could use this to bring up a second menu, with other options like Subtitles, Chapter Selection, Audio Commentary etc. As all these are possible in quicktime, why not on AppleTV?

Just a thought anyway.....

 

[spydr]

I think the weakest link is the compressed movie file format – the MPEG4 (or for that matter any of its kins) don't have the ability to store secondary language and optional subtitles within the file. A terrible shortcoming, if you ask me. So I think before Apple could implement such a feature, standards (capabilities of the file formats) need to change. In a way, you can ask why is apple not pushing for such changes to the file formats.

 

[williedigital]

wrong

I think the weakest link is the compressed movie file format – the MPEG4 (or for that matter any of its kins) don't have the ability to store secondary language and optional subtitles within the file. A terrible shortcoming, if you ask me. So I think before Apple could implement such a feature, standards (capabilities of the file formats) need to change. In a way, you can ask why is apple not pushing for such changes to the file formats.

Actually .mp4 has the ability to store 2 audio tracks, multiple embedded subtitle streams, and even cover images. Of course, apple doesn't provide the ability to do any of these things, but it's perfectly within the specs. Check out the windows programs yamb and mp4box to get a taste of how this is done.