What do you think of Tosh?

[Jan Crittenden livingston]

If it were my blog, I wouldn’t be here.

Tosh has been up less that a month or so and already the first place on the web that showed the actual variable frame rates was on http://www.defperception.com.

Best,

jan

Jan Crittenden Livingston
Product Manager, DVCPRO, DVCPRO50, AG-DVX100
Panasonic Broadcast & TV Systems

[Häakon]

“Tosh is a fake, you’re not – that’s why HE’S counter-productive. ”

It’s just interesting to me is all. Yes, Tosh is fake. No, Jan is not. But if what “Tosh” is saying is coming from Jan, how is that any different than if it’s coming straight from Jan in the first place? Why does it even matter? I’m not defending any “need” for Tosh, but I think it’s silly that people are getting all worked up about it. Human pyschology is fun, eh?

The only thing I don’t like about defperception is that it’s rarely updated – some posts are more than a month apart from each other – and a lot of the information (granted they’re trying to “educate” the entire world) is common knowledge – or at least easy to find with just a little research on the camera/subject (which is something that everyone should be doing before plopping down six grand for a camera). The newest entry about 24p could’ve been written for the DVX years ago.

Maybe I’m just squirmy because I’ve been waiting (along with everyone else) for the camera they announced back at the beginning of the year. Either way, “Tosh” doesn’t bother me in the slightest. I just want to see some footage!

[Luis Caffesse]

[Noah Kadner] “Would you read a blog by Tony the Tiger talking about how Frosted Flakes are made and how tasty they are? Would you read the Maytag Repairman’s blog about what he does with his free time”

If Tony the Tiger announced new information about the future of Frosted flakes then I’m sure people who were obsessed with the cereal would read it.
If the Maytge Rapairman announced new features and products before anyone else then I’m sure people would read it.

With as much as everyone seems to enjoy pouring over the minutiae of the HVX specs, I don’t think “Tosh” will be at any lack of readers if Panasonic continues to use that “blog” as a platform through which to announce new information. I guarantee that the day they post footage on that site, as well as the detailed specs on the CCD block of the HVX that defperception will have record traffic (and many of those hits will be from those of us who don’t really like the idea of a fake spokesman).

I don’t like it myself, I don’t think it’s an ideal marketing solution. But few things in this world are ideal.
I’ll just grin adn bear it, look past the ‘Tosh’ persona and go to the site for the information.

[Mike Schrengohst]

I have nothing against creative marketing, thats the business I am in! And I do visit Tosh to see what’s up. What I want is some more meat beyond what I can read in a brochure. I realize the meat has not been processed yet. I was asking early on some questions about the P2 workflow. They alude to it in the AG-HVX200 countdown. Is this something that will be ready to go and implement when the cameras ship or will we have to wait another 6 months before we can really do HD with the AG-HVX200. I know firestore has said it will ship a version we can use with the AG-HVX200 in March. Great, what editing systems will support it. I saw a Matrox demo on Axio and the Matrox rep said they might be supporting P2 but was not sure. The reason I am getting all worked up is that I can see that I might be able to produce projects that I have scripts and storyboards for. In the meantime I have to edit and produce the boring for money projects to get to the next step. Jan you have been great to jump in here and believe me, I am on the Panasonic bus with you and as soon as I get my hands on the AG-HVX200 I am sure it won’t be long before you can report on real projects and let Tosh be a pleasant memory.

[Rennie Klymyk]

My first intro to Tosh and the site was via a News Note right here on the cow. It was written up as “Panasonic’s new informitive blog” set up to provide a tech resource for all levels of interested parties seeking info on the camera. I went to the site knowing it was Panasonic’s blog site so I don’t see the “deception” side of this contraversey. (I just briefly looked for this posting but couldn’t locate it again).

I must admit I rarely have visited blog sites due to lack of time so I’m unaware at how this site violates the spirit of true blogging.

However, if you arrive at the site by other means other than Panasonic’s own announcement/intro, I can see the confussion. The stock photo of the fellow in the header and in the “photos” section, a photo depicts Tosh in a van in the Panasonic parking lot in Japan where all you see is his feet sticking out the window and guess what? They are human feet! So I guess I understand the clamity over all this. Tosh should have had a more virtual character…. like.. “Clara” in the movie “Thomas in Love”. There would probably be a lot less complaints if the Ad Agency who concieved this idea had concidered that in the beginning.

So you ask “what do we think of Tosh?”
I vote – get rid of Tosh and give us Clara, but at any rate I don’t feel decieved or misled. If Panasonic can’t procure the rights to Clara’s character at least give Tosh a cyborg body and an AG-HVX200 head for those who stumble on the site from links other than Panasonic’s.

[Damonbots]

Hey,
If anybody happens to run into Tosh, tell him Max Headroom wants to do lunch.
Chow

[Damonbots]

Sent that same lame joke to Tosh directly “he” actually wrote back. Maybe they’re not so stiff over at Panasonic after all. I’m starting to like Tosh. Well, not really, but I think I prejudged the site right off the bat. It’s actually not so bad and the guys behind Tosh seem to answer questions enthusiastically.