Panasonic support website is TERRIBLE!

Steve Kahn

Steve Kahn

Well-known member
<rant on>

Okay... all I want to do is download the AVCHD viewer.

I've already registered my AF100. I've already logged into the site with the user name & password that I used to register.

I go to this page to download the viewer.

Though I'm already logged in, in the damn page it says "Welcome Steve Kahn" they want me to log in again for the software, which I do... but it doesn't work!

Someone please clue me in on how to get this apcray viewer - which to my knowledge but please tell me if I'm wrong didn't come on the shipping CD.

</rant off>
 
Try altering some of the security/privacy settings of your browser...enable "cookies". It might help.
 
Okay... I see my problem.

Here's what they are looking for you to enter in the pop up box:

User Name: avcview

and

Password: macam8


:kali: (again, terrible support website) :badputer:
 
Steve, quite clearly on that page its says the following just near the top (this is for the mac download but windows has the same screen)


User Name: avcview
Password: macam8


Enter the above codes when dialogue is prompted.

EDIT: I see you already found it.
 
Thanks Noel. Yep. I found it.

One more question... I'm running 64bit Windows 7... will AVCHD viewer work on my computer?

When trying to install I get a message saying "this application does not support this 64bit operating system".

Is there a 64bit version?
 
Doesn't appear to be a 64 bit version available. Really strange why they don't support 64 bit.

[System Requirements]
- Operational environment: Windows XP (32bit), Windows Vista (32bit), Windows 7 (32bit)
 
Im on the same page
Its asks for "E-Mail" & "Password" and it dose not says any ware what should they be...
Any suggestions?
 
There may be a reason (unknown to me) but I've never understood all the "secret squirrel" stuff on getting these downloads . . .
I mean, after all, unless you have the camera to begin with and really need the software, who else would want it?

It's not exactly like you're getting the full version of, i.e., "Photoshop" for free, is it?
 
Panasonic has really billed themselves as the dependable camera company but it is upsetting that there is no 64bit version of the program as windows7 player can't deal with PCM audio. So aside from importing into Premiere I'm not sure if there's a way to view PCM clips in a 64bit OS.

AVCHD metadata is sorely lacking as well.

Hopefully these issues will be resolved with alacrity.
 
I thought "Movist" was the best player for AVCHD. Is that no longer true? Movist is easy to download and it is free.
 
I second Mocist, especially if you are on a Mac. (I realize you guys are not, but for others that read this thread) It´s much more stable than VLC (specially for XDCAM footage)
 
Couldnt agree more with the original post.

The Panasonic website is unfriendly, over zealously secured, unfathomable and unnecessarily complex.

Diabolical interaction with the end user! To be avoided as much as possible.

BTW - the avcam viwer is a "big button" crap app.
 
Yup, agree.

I tried to register my AF100. First I had to register myself (I think). This took quite a while- the site was unnecessarily demanding and zealous about exactly what format I had to enter things in and wanted to know all manner of personal details which I consider rather unnecessary for someone who has sold me a camera to know. Then it demanded two numbers I hadn't got, and apparently had to phone up my dealer or Panasonic broadcast to get. Because of course I can't be trusted to register my own camera with the serial number or anything simple like that.

I gave up at that point as I was doing this in the evening and of course none of the numbers were out-of-hours numbers.

I don't know why they plastered the "register!!! register!!!" silver stickers all over the camera and the manual and with a flyer in the box if they are going to make it so damn hard to actually do it.

It is entirely possible that I've misinterpreted the procedure and tried to register as a security guard for their manufacturing plant or something, the site is so hard to navigate and confusing I could have been doing anything.

Ghastly.

I did manage to download AVCCAM viewer eventually, despite it initially demanding that I register some bit of kit. On the second time around the loop clicking random buttons it gave me those fake "login details" (first time it had started demanding I phone Panasonic up again instead). The software sucks. As far as I can see you can't even point it at an arbitrary directory to start viewing- it has to be your Users/username/movies directory. Which is not where I store my virgin card imports. File->Open is greyed out and drag and drop doesn't do anything so I can't even get it to play without arbitrarily copying data to a place I don't want to store it. There's a typo on the main screen (It offers to copy images from SD crad - nice of it) which is just generally indicative of the lack of quality control and development.

If you are considering THIS software worthy of the Fort Knox security, Panasonic, you are in for a rude awakening in the real world.

Cheers, Hywel.
 
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Yeah. Agreed.

Registering the Panny has been a back and forth email adventure betwixt myself and my supplier. A week later and still unable to register because their website is a l33ts0rs anti hacks mega kung fu fail.
 
hey PANASONIC out there in the tall towers of some Japanese city, WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT IT? Your customers do not like the WAY you SUPPORT them? ! Thank you for your attention. PS: How is it possible to employ such incompetent Web designers?????
 
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Just want to add that though the website is plain awful I have gotten 3, count them THREE, phone calls from a Panasonic technical rep today wanting to help me download the software - I have been busy in meetings all day and couldn't take them. The upshot of the ACVHD software is that it is NOT written by Panasonic and the reaon you need to enter the extra user name and password is for that other (mystery) company to get their beans counted and charge Panasonic yet another licencing fee.

The rep told me there is NO 64 bit version available and no hints as to when there would be one.

The absolutely GREAT newss that they listen to DVXUSER!

AND

They do make a good, no great effort to fix things.

Thank you Panasonic. Appreicated!

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Still, though there really should be a 64bit version of AVCHD viewer made by Panasonic and AVCHD metadata really needs some beefing up. I am trying to test settings for an upcoming shoot and the idea that I have to slate changes is... silly.

And, the website is quite unfathomable.
 
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