PS3 firmware 4.53 is optional, adds closed caption support

Sony has released an optional firmware update for PS3 which adds closed captioning support for Blu-rays.

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Sony has released an optional firmware update for PS3. If you have automatic updates enabled, you'll see the update ready to install on your system. Otherwise, you'll need to manually update your console.

According to the update notes, 4.53 adds one new feature: support of closed captions while playing Blu-ray movies. Every other feature, including support for automatic downloads, was introduced in 4.50.

While most Blu-ray discs support subtitles, support for closed captioning has been difficult due to complications regarding HDMI specifications. So, seven years after PS3's launch, it can finally support the feature.

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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  • reply
    December 4, 2013 10:45 AM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, PS3 firmware 4.53 is optional, adds closed caption support.

    Sony has released an optional firmware update for PS3 which adds closed captioning support for Blu-rays.

    • reply
      December 4, 2013 10:46 AM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      December 4, 2013 11:22 AM

      CC support seems like something very basic, why wasn't it included already?

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        December 4, 2013 11:34 AM

        Because of the HDMI spec complications mentioned in the article. I think you're mixing up subtitles and closed captioning.

        Blu-ray playback on the PS3 has supported subtitles since launch. This is enabled on the player side and the subtitles are encoded onto the video stream the PS3 sends to the TV.

        Closed captioning is enabled on the TV side. When it's enabled on the TV and it detects a CC signal in the video feed it'll display the text.

        • reply
          December 4, 2013 11:42 AM

          You're right, I was mixing up subtitles and CC. I would have figured they'd just create an extra subtitle track with the CC data instead to get rid of the legacy stuff.

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        December 4, 2013 11:38 AM

        CC actually rides in the audio stream on the edge of the signal if my memory from my RTVF days holds. Modern day subtitles are more advanced and either live in an independent stream or are now part of the video data stream (which it's all data these days) - I can't remember which it is although Wikipedia says it's included as part of the video stream.

        The compatibility issue was that the newer blu-ray/hd-dvd specs didn't allow for anything to ride shotgun like CC did. You can catch some of these old oddities when you watch old TV shows on netflix. You'll notice some odd noise on the top or right edge of the image. This is where stuff like CC and time code sync were tracked.

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          December 5, 2013 4:28 AM

          Close... CC info sits just outside of the visible *video* on an NTSC broadcast. Line 21 of the vertical interval.

          • reply
            December 5, 2013 4:32 AM

            Well, theoretically outside the visible; sometimes you can see it on some sets.

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