Multi-directional non-linear stretch of video

A computer implemented method comprising:

• receiving an image having a first aspect ratio;
• performing a nonlinear stretch to at least one of horizontal or vertical aspects of the received image as a function of a second aspect ratio different than the first aspect ratio, wherein the nonlinear stretch applies a variable scaling ratio that changes continuously across the image such that video image pixels nearer to an edge than a center of each image are stretched more than pixels nearer to a center than an edge of each image;
• and
• displaying the images on a display screen having the second aspect ratio.

A device comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory device coupled to the processor and having a program stored thereon for execution by the processor to perform operations to perform a method comprising:
• receiving video images having a first aspect ratio;
• detecting subtitles in the received video images;
• and
• adding a subtitle area for display of subtitles outside of a display of the video images by modifying a size of the displayed video images, wherein modifying the size of the displayed video images comprises performing a nonlinear stretch to at least one of horizontal or vertical aspects of the received video images to optimize display of the video images on a display device, and wherein video image pixels nearer to an edge than a center of each image are stretched more than pixels nearer to the center than an edge of each image.