> "This is to be expected, but DVD subtitles are crummy, with low-resolution text and unappealing typography."<p>DVD subtitles are encoded as images, not text, so in fact you can have any typography and style of typeface that you like, if you're willing to put some effort into it.<p>The first release of Ghostbusters on DVD abused a subtitle track to store a Mystery Science Theater style silhouette of the people doing the commentary track. It was very funny, but sadly only worked on the 4:3 version of the DVD.<p>It was removed from all later releases, but they never re-recorded the commentary track, which still contains references to things they are supposedly pointing at, even on the blu-ray releases.
The Screener DVD production process is a curious bit of insanity. The "production" area[0] for this work is in a "secured" area of a "secure" facility. First, to enter the building, you must place any and all electronic devices in a locker. Once your credentials are approved, you then must be metal detector wanded before entering production floor. Once on the production floor, you must then enter a separate area from the rest of your co-workers that is secured even further by restricted access card readers and secure cage (I'm dead serious). Cameras, and I do mean multiple, are everywhere in this area, not that there aren't cameras in the rest of the place. If you've never been through an MPAA security audit, count your blessings.<p>Once inside, the production is not dissimilar to normal short run DVD production. Standard DVD authoring software. Standard DVD burners. There are a few additional steps during video encoding that includes forensic watermarking and the pain in the arse that entails to ensure each disc is uniquely identifiable. Once the disc is burned, qc'd, and packaged, the physical media is then handled in also ridiculously security theater fashion. Lots of signatures and timestamps.<p>To leave, you must once again pass through security to make sure you haven't succumbed to the temptation of walking out of the facility with more than you entered. You can return to your locker to retrieve your personal devices before finally being able to leave.<p>[0] There are more than one company that does this work, but this is the description of where I worked many many moons ago.
I was confused by the “form over function” comment. The author commended Apple’s “prioritizing form over function” but then criticized the function of competing items, indirectly lauding the function of Apple’s product.
Do they just watch on DVD resolution to select special effect winner? 1080p resolution and Blu ray has been with us for 15 years and they are still on DVD?
I feel obligated to point out that every Mac still ships with a non-removable app called “DVD Player” preinstalled, so DVDs are still supported in the Apple ecosystem.