this post was submitted on 24 Sep 2024

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318

Marques Brownlee says ‘I hear you’ after fans criticize his new wallpaper app (www.theverge.com)

submitted 3 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

163 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Marques Brownlee, known as MKBHD, faced backlash over his new wallpaper app, Panels, due to its high subscription cost ($49.99/year) and concerns over excessive data permissions.

Brownlee acknowledged user feedback, promising to adjust ad frequency for free users and address privacy concerns, clarifying that the app's data disclosures were broader than intended.

The app, which offers curated wallpapers and shares profits with artists, aims to improve over time, despite criticisms of its design and monetization approach.

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 weeks ago

Disingenuous shill. He's been a famous youtuber for years. He knows how consumers think despite getting all of his shit sent to him for free. There's no way in hell he thought this would work out. "I hear you" Oh do you, Markass Brownlee? You heard all of the noise that people think it's bullshit that you want to sell $50/year subscriptions for jpegs? What kind of philanthropic or based follow up do you have planned to capitalize on all of this newfound SEO?

Youtubers really don't have to answer to anyone. He loses nothing by launching this app, and he gains a whole lot of new eyes and ears coming to his channel. He'll find a way to humanize himself through this and new viewers will click sub because he'll appear super down to Earth. New subs = more sponsorships.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago

I think I would like the idea (and at first this my understanding) if you could buy one wallpaper for $1 (or a pack of few for $3) and the 70-90% would go to the artist. Also app would have to limit tracking to just some basic stuff. I know you can get wallpapers free, but supporting something that looks great on your screen would be a nice option.

Of course subscription service for this is mad.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

I don't understand why the internet is unable to say "I don't like this app, so I won't pay for it" rather than "I don't like this app, so you're a bad person". Hundreds of people raging over and catastrophising something they never bought or even heard of until now.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Because it's blatant consumer exploitation. Just because the Latin phrase "caveat emptor" exists, doesn't mean that it's a challenge for every scummy youtuber to launch a shite app in order to fleece their subscribers. This is literally the free market in action. The consumers are making their voices heard. I've never understood the mentality of "don't like it, ignore it". No. It actively undermines the work other people on YT have done to legitimize the platform.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

Who's being exploited? It's not like the app hides its true nature until you pay. People are upset at the idea of paying it something they don't want to but that's a completely imaginary scenario, those who think it's good will pay for it and those who don't won't. I don't think that justifies calling the guy names and assuming how he must've become (or has always been) a bad person.

I've no idea what you mean by legitimacy of YouTube, but if you think things like this hurt it wouldn't it help to not have a big outrage that makes it reach even more people? Let it have a quiet death and maybe the media will stop creating these weekly how-dare-you-make-a-bad-product dramas

[–] [email protected] 24 points 2 weeks ago

See these people as entertainment and not as reviewers, influencers. They are not more than entertainment companies.

Secondly, I don't see him as the dev of the app. I don't know which company dev it and he put his name on it. This brings us to the cut. 50 artist, 25 him, 25 dev company. Without him, the dev company has no chance.

If I'm looking my definition, it looks like a scam.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

Here’s his wallpaper: MKBSD

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

Whose website is this? Many of these look like Justin Maller's (IG)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

The highrises are by Chris Hytha, a pretty cool dude whose work I do enjoy.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 weeks ago

looks like shit thanks 🙏👍

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Calling them underwhelming is an overstatement. I can find at least 50 better ways to burn my money.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

basicappleguy.com

This professional guy shares handmade wallpaper for free.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

wallbase/wallhaven as well

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Lol screw this dude, never liked him to begin with.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

The first time i saw one of his reviews, i thought, "This guy isn't genuine." "That's not an opinion. it's a specification disguised as an opinion."

He gave off real shill vibes, and then i later found out he was an apple simp, and it all came together. He isn't super biased, but he definitely gives more providence to apple products.

His recent review of the apple vr headset was too nice. He said some bad things but qualifies each critisism with a "but i like that" or "but it's not a deal breaker."

Maybe i created a bias against him based on my early impressions, but i just get a bad vibe from him. He doesn't seem to give his opinions.

I will say, though, an exception would be that rabbit thing he reviewed poorly recently and got some backlash from the manufacturer for. I believe he then came back and justified his review. Although everyone was reviewing it poorly so he would give the game away if he said it was good. So perhaps its not an exception... i dont know. Im just freestyling this comment....

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

When it comes to Apple, check out Snazzy Labs.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago

Totally on board with you. The only tech dudes I trust are ones that are around Linux space bc they usually tend to call out bs when they see it; mental outlaw, someordinarygamers to name a couple.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

Tech bro knob slobber.

[–] [email protected] 45 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

This guy is no different than every other smarmy "Tech Reviewer" on YT. His reviews have been borderline useless for the last few years. This is just the next logical step that these guys take - hitch themselves onto a tech accessory or app and charge their followers predatory prices - fuck this guy.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

It's kind of a paradox when you think about it. Good reviewers are often just regular people with a passion for tech but as they become more popular and prolific they become part of the industry itself. Once that happens even if they try to stay objective and critical their perspective is so different from regular people that reviews are just part of the sales and marketing strategy rather than pro tips from an enthusiast.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Yeah, I imagine him getting shipped products over and over and then likely being paid to try them out and then paid to review them would dampen the authenticity. That said, I haven't watched much of his content so I couldn't tell you if he really was really bias or changed over time.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago

He's on the better side of tech reviewers IMO. I think sometimes he's more focussed on describing what sets a product apart in the market, rather than judging whether that niche is worth filling or not.

Definitely doesn't feel scammy/overly ad driven.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 3 weeks ago

"curated wallpapers" including random generated stuff, and "shares profits" on a 50/50 basis, for a shitty app developed by what looks like three fivers in a trench coat.

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