Subtitles on Netflix Watch Instantly -- sortof.

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farmerjoe

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I finnaly put together a hack that allows me to enjoy some of the movies on the Netflix WatchNow feature.

First go to this website or something similar and download the subtitle file:
DivX SubTitles - Best place on the net for DivX, DVD and HDTV subtitles!

Then, I had to create a ~2 hr video of blank frames. I did this with a program called VirtualDub, the smallest I could make it is 7.27 MB. When i have a chance I'll try to make it a smaller file size, and then I'll provide it for download and you won't have to make your own.

The last piece is a program called Media player Clasic
Media Player Classic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Use this to play the "blank" avi file and the subtitles. This program allows you to adjust the video and put the subtitles clear at the top, then hide everything but the video, set it to "always on top" and then adjust it to sit on top of your IE window with the watch now video. I used keyboard shortcuts to help me play and pause the video, and right now it's a bit of a pain to make everything play in sync, but It's good enough for now, it works.

If any of you want a copy of my "blank" avi file let me know. Hopefully if we continue working with this and tweking the process we can find a solution that will work even better.
 
More options, nothing perfect yet.

Since I started this thread I've worked at trying to find a better solution playing subtitles during Netflix Watch Instantly.

I couldn't make my 2hour AVI of black frames any smaller, but, when it's zipped it's only about 400k! I've made it available for download.

http://farmerjoe.org/alldeaf/blackframes.zip

--------
I've also found a program called SubStitler. It dosn't work as well as I would like, but it might work better for people who don't have a powerfull enough CPU or video card to use Media player classic. (my old 1ghz sony viao laptop can't play the subtitles with media player classic, and netflix movies at the same time. Unfortunately using SubStitler wasn't enough to fix that problem.)
zuggyWu:d
 
Ummph something new! I am not familiar how to do the subtitles insert.. would like to learn how to use this software...

I personally have Sandisk Sansa View 8GB which can play video. I would LOVE to covert protected DVD (I rents from Blockbuster.com) into MPEG-4 format along with SUBTITLE in 320x240 resolution format so I won't have to miss movies that I rents. I do know there are DRM remover (also Macromedia remover) to remove protection in order to copy or convert video to smaller format for mobile PDA or PMP (Portable Media Player) such as Ipod Nano, Ipod, and any other MP3 player that can play video. I wanted to use free DVD protection remover but unable to find one in net. I no longer have P2P filesharing website that I usually downloads softwares for free.

I did download "Death Note" from Youtube.com with English subtitle. Death note is a series of japanese TV show without commericals. I use free any-video-converter program to convert youtube format to MPEG-4 (mobile phone format) and changed resolution to 320x240. I can read subtitle just fine. It look like a fine print on credit card signup sheet. My co worker who is 64 years old can't read it at all and I told him, You can't read it, you're too old!!! ROFL.

So can you give me suggestions?
Thanx
Catty
 
The thing you're trying to do is off topic, but I can answer your question.

The easist (and possibly fastest) way to copy a DVD to MPEG4 and keep subtitles is to record it with a camera that records directly to MPEG4.

I was playing around with my Kodak easyshare camera a while back and did a video recording of the TV, it came out surprisingly good. Here's what I'd recommend:
get a cheap mpeg4 compatible camera if you don't have one already such as a kodak easyshare, and get a big memory card for it, 1gb or 2gb, should be fine)
Why did you waste your money with a Sandisk Sansa View? it only has a 1.8 inch screen, and cost about $150, for a little more you could have gotten a PSP or some other player with a bigger screen.

purplecatty said:
Ummph something new! I am not familiar how to do the subtitles insert.. would like to learn how to use this software...

I personally have Sandisk Sansa View 8GB which can play video. I would LOVE to covert protected DVD (I rents from Blockbuster.com) into MPEG-4 format along with SUBTITLE in 320x240 resolution format so I won't have to miss movies that I rents. I do know there are DRM remover (also Macromedia remover) to remove protection in order to copy or convert video to smaller format for mobile PDA or PMP (Portable Media Player) such as Ipod Nano, Ipod, and any other MP3 player that can play video. I wanted to use free DVD protection remover but unable to find one in net. I no longer have P2P filesharing website that I usually downloads softwares for free.

So can you give me suggestions?
Thanx
Catty
Click to expand...
 
Wait, I have NetFlix, but I haven't tried the "Watch Instantly" feature. Are ANY of the movies closed captioned? Some? How does one get a closed captioned "Watch Instantly" movie?
 
farmerjoe said:
The thing you're trying to do is off topic, but I can answer your question.

The easist (and possibly fastest) way to copy a DVD to MPEG4 and keep subtitles is to record it with a camera that records directly to MPEG4.

I was playing around with my Kodak easyshare camera a while back and did a video recording of the TV, it came out surprisingly good. Here's what I'd recommend:
get a cheap mpeg4 compatible camera if you don't have one already such as a kodak easyshare, and get a big memory card for it, 1gb or 2gb, should be fine)
Why did you waste your money with a Sandisk Sansa View? it only has a 1.8 inch screen, and cost about $150, for a little more you could have gotten a PSP or some other player with a bigger screen.
Click to expand...


Sorry for off topic. Thought I was in topic regarding about Subtitle cuz of some movies don't have in download for Sansa

NO didn't waste my money on Sansa. It was for my daughter (her christmas gift) and I do use it for work if I had permission from her LOL. My work don't allow anyone bring and watch DVD movies except break (they let us bring DVD portable player but cannot be on workfloor). Break is too short for 1 1/2 to 2hr movies and since that where my work area had alot of free gap time than break. That's why I bring PMP when I need it to kill time. PMP are popular at my work cuz it is easy to stash in pocket. Boss get confused with PMP and fancy cellphone LOL.

Catty
 
Dennis said:
Wait, I have NetFlix, but I haven't tried the "Watch Instantly" feature. Are ANY of the movies closed captioned? Some? How does one get a closed captioned "Watch Instantly" movie?
Click to expand...

None of the Watch instantly movies are captioned. Unless you count the foreign films, that are subtitled in English. Such as "Pan's Labyrinth" (I recommend renting that one by the way)

I recently discovered that you can download the subtitle files separately from various subtitle websites. The trick is getting the subtitles on the screen at the same time as the Netflix Movie. By using the software I've mentioned previously, I was able to make it work. It works great but there's a small problem; synchronization. I've found it difficult to sync the movie with the subtitles, I have enough hearing ability to make it watchable but not always enough patience. When I want to sit and relax with a movie I generally don't have the patience to strain at listening and fiddle with the subtitles.

Netflix doesn't provide closed captioning because they do not care. It's not required by law and they don't feel they'll make a significant amount of money from it. They misrepresent the captioning and subtitle information about DVDs and when I complain they pass the buck. If we want captions on online content we need to either do it ourselves, or wait for a competitor to start doing it, then if we're lucky, companies like netflix will also provide captions from fear of loosing customers, though there's not enough of us to make that likely.
 
farmerjoe said:
Netflix doesn't provide closed captioning because they do not care. It's not required by law and they don't feel they'll make a significant amount of money from it. They misrepresent the captioning and subtitle information about DVDs and when I complain they pass the buck. If we want captions on online content we need to either do it ourselves, or wait for a competitor to start doing it, then if we're lucky, companies like netflix will also provide captions from fear of loosing customers, though there's not enough of us to make that likely.
Click to expand...

Try filing FCC complaint.. If many deafie file complaint (we need grassroot movement!!!). If we can pressure FCC to do it. FCC would order Netflix or any online rental companies to provide CC for us. We need voice to force them to provide caption or face fine. Grind their face!!

Catty
 
I have known this for long time because I use torrent to download movies along with the subtitle file (.srt) and play the movie in DivX Player. It usually work great but I don't use it with Netflix since Netflix said they will work on it in the future, so I don't want to waste my time doing that.

I appreciated your concern though.

Thanks,
Exor
 
What you did here is something I did quite some time ago in my search to try and find a way to solve the problem of internet video.

Go here to see one of the discussions I made on this subject in this forum. I think this will interest you.

I think you'll also be interested in reading this post on another forum about it. Click here.

The above two links are more about adding subtitles to streaming videos so you don't have to download them at all.

Now for DIVx videos there is a much easier way to watch DIVx videos with subtitles. Any video you can download can be watched with subtitles. The DIVx player supports subtitles (.srt files). So you won't have to do anything but turn them on.

Here's what allows you to watch them with the subtitles. First of all the subtitles file (.srt) must be in the same folder as the video. So if the movie is called movie.avi then the subtitles must be called movie.srt.

Insistently, if you download a video that is not in a format that you need it to be in order to watch it with subtitles. They can be converted to any format you want or need. For example if it's a WMV file and you need it to be an AVI file. Just convert it.

Click here to find the best free video converter I've found. It's a nice program and will convert just about all video formats (flv, avi, divx, xvid, mpeg4, ipod, iphone, psp, 3GP, 3G2, AVI, DIVX, XVID, TS, DVD, VCD, MPEG, MPEG2, MP3, WAV, amr, m4a, mp4, vob, mov, h264, h263, wmv, wma).
By the way. You can use this quick media converter to convert your blackframe video file to a FLV file and that will make the file much smaller. Then you can open it in the total video player below and watch it with the subtitles.

Also, this free video player called the Total Video player will play just about all video formats and it also allows you to include subtitles.

So if want to watch any video you download with subtitles the above 3 programs will allow you to do it.
 
UPDATE!! Netflix adds Captioning/Subtitle Option on the PS3 & Wii Starting October 18th. (still relies on the same limited number of titles - same as PC/Mac)

See Article: Netflix on PS3 goes disc-free, gets 1080p streaming and 5.1 surround sound (update) -- Engadget

All Netflix "Subtitles" work like DVD English Subtitles (bypassing the Closed Captioning chip on TVs and using its own technology to display English subtitles) With the new PS3 & Wii system upgrades (no Disk required), the option to turn subtitles on or off are on the Title Page of each title (where is shows "Start from the Beginning" "Add/Remove to Queue", etc.) On Titles with Subtitling added, there is a new button on the same line as the stars/rating/year/length called "Subtitle | Audio". Click on this to turn on Subtitles (also option to switch from spoken English to another spoken language such as Spanish, when available)

Here is a list of Netflix InstantWatch titles with English Subtitles.
 
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