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User profile for user: Robvonthego
Robvonthego Author
User level: Level 1
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Closed Caption Features for iTune Movie Downloads?

While I was glad to see that Apple plans to offer a movie download service with the iTunes Store, I'm still inclined to NOT use the service if there's no assurance that closed captioned/subtitled movies will be available as well.

Will iTunes Movie downloads include captioned media?

Today's DVDs all have features enabling us to turn on captions/subtitles and it's already a shame that Netflix, according to a representative's comment made nearly two years ago, will not provide captioned movies "until the near future"...

I hope Apple takes its hearing-impaired (deaf and hard of hearing) customer base into consideration...and it IS a sizeable customer base.

Posted on Jan 15, 2008 3:15 PM

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19 replies
User profile for user: toonz
toonz
User level: Level 7
22,360 points

Jan 15, 2008 4:07 PM in response to Robvonthego

My understanding is that some iTunes Movie downloads (both purchase and rental) will have closed caption support. There's supposed to be information on the purchase or rental page that identifies if closed caption / subtitle are available for the title. Give it a couple days for the store to settle down, but then I would say go looking for it.
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User profile for user: HearingExchange
HearingExchange
User level: Level 1
1 points

Jan 15, 2008 7:19 PM in response to Robvonthego

The question on the minds of the millions of deaf and hard of hearing people is whether Apple will make or enable captioning for their downloadable movies. I blogged about this a few weeks ago at HearingExchange online here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/blogs/?p=93 Apple didn't consider people with hearing loss when they made their iPhone non-compatible with hearing aids and cochlear implant processors. For a technology company, they aren't keeping up with accessibility trends. This is both disheartening and disappointing for people who struggle to participate socially and professionally on a daily basis with the world at large.
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User profile for user: HearingExchange
HearingExchange
User level: Level 1
1 points

Jan 16, 2008 3:43 AM in response to iTunes Mike

Hi Mike,

So, are you confirming that the new Apple iTunes movie rental service will support captions on the iPod, iPhone, Apple TV, computer and television?

I know how to determine what movies have captioning and what the symbol looks like. The question is if your platform is going to support them. Amazon Unbox downloads do not and it has been frustrating for many.

Thank you for your assistance.

Paula
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User profile for user: Chris Crews
Chris Crews
User level: Level 1
20 points

Jan 16, 2008 5:14 PM in response to Chris Crews

After thinking about it I found a way to find all the movies with captions there are at present 3 of them.

Italian Job (2003)
the Ghost and the Darkness
Bratz: Genie Magic

To locate the flicks with captions click on the browse eye icon in the lower right part of the iTunes window. Then select movies. Then choose a Genre. In this example we will use action adventure. then scroll down the list looking near the MPAA rating (G, PG, PG-13...) there you will find some films listed with the CC symbol there.

I myself am going to be pleased to inform my deaf friends of this new development.
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User profile for user: AdamSkwersky
AdamSkwersky
User level: Level 1
10 points

Jan 17, 2008 5:57 PM in response to Chris Crews

Hi,
Its cool that you found an easier way to find CC movies (using the browse tool). I didnt know about it so it was something new. Still, it is a bit hard to find the movies since you cannot sort by whether its CC or not. Also this tip doesn't work well for TV shows. I have yet to find a CC TV show. The browse tool further breaks down the genre into specific TV shows so it makes it harder to see all the shows at one time.

In any case I did find some more movies with CC -

The Ghost and the Darkness
To Catch a Thief
The Shootist
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User profile for user: maloneTDI
maloneTDI
User level: Level 1
0 points

Jan 21, 2008 8:34 AM in response to AdamSkwersky

I'm pleased to see that closed-captioning/subtitles are available for the hearing impaired.

In a local movie rental store, the majority of new releases (perhaps 90%) will have English subtitles or CC. What's the approximate percentage of new releases with CC/subtitles in Apple TV? Based on the posts here it sounds like only a handful of movies, which I may not be satisfied with.

I'm curious as to know if TV shows from iTunes has CC as well, especially Discovery Channel HD and HGTV HD.

Thanks,
Mark
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User profile for user: sce1
sce1
User level: Level 1
0 points

Feb 13, 2008 9:53 AM in response to Robvonthego

I just wanted to add that I have been looking for a VOD solution with subtitles and nobody is hearing impaired in my family (well the kids seem to be at times when it suits them)...

Often if I want to watch a movie with my wife without waking up the kids, I need to lower the volume and there can be subtle dialogue that is missed without the captions. Especially if the movie is heavy with slang, etc.

So basically, people shouldn't limit the market for this feature to hearing impaired only...
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Closed Caption Features for iTune Movie Downloads?

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