this post was submitted on 24 Sep 2024
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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] 8 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

Homie spreads apple propaganda like aids, he's an awful tech influencer

[–] [email protected] 32 points 3 weeks ago

He is quite harsh on Apple for someone who gets exclusive access. In this video he is talking about how nothing has changed, barely considered an update and that the new things dont even come with the phone.

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[–] [email protected] 45 points 3 weeks ago

Wallpapers on phone are useless because apps are always full screen.

Who would pay for such thing?

[–] [email protected] 14 points 3 weeks ago

There are infinite list of things and services that are way too expensive for me to even consider buying but I also don't go around complaining about them. Move on guys.. If you want free wallpapers you can try one of the other 9000 free wallpaper apps available. This is recreational outrage.

[–] [email protected] 113 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

No sane individual is going to pay for a subscription for phone backgrounds.

That is absolutely a stupid business idea and the people who came up with it should be publicly shamed.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 3 weeks ago

I've not looked into it, but it's probably pitched as a feel-good way of supporting artists.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Remember when people paid for ringtones? Doesn't mean it isn't stupid, especially as a subscription, but people do stupid things and other people take advantage.

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[–] [email protected] 44 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

You think it's new? It's have already done by so many people in Android community. Like Widepaper, Wallfever, Wallbyte etc. These all apps are paid. People actually pay for Wallpapers.

[–] [email protected] 33 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I think buying an app for a couple of quid that has a good curated collection of wallpapers, a nice UX, etc. is a completely fair price to pay for the convenience. I like supporting devs. I fail to see the stupidity.

A $12 monthly subscription is an entirely different beast, though.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 weeks ago

Or even a market that let you just buy individual wallpapers as you want them, like how you used to be able to buy individual tracks in itunes instead of a whole album.

A subscription model is a bit silly.

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[–] [email protected] 31 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

50/50 cut is borderline predatory. It should be 30/70. It feels like marques is so out of touch with common people.

[–] [email protected] 61 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 51 points 3 weeks ago (7 children)

Marques has a decent chunk of his fan base that's...kinda rich? That's the only thing that can explain why he reviews supercars and expects people to use their phone without a case. So if he's directing some of that fan base's money toward artists, I'm all for it, assuming the profit sharing is reasonable (and I have no reason to believe it's not).

I mean, I'm not going to pay that sort of money on a wallpaper (I almost always use photos of family or friends anyway). But if the people who buy it like it, and the people who sell art for it are treated well, you go MKBHD.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago (5 children)

Im not rich and I use my phone without a case and watch some of those reviews.

The app is a bad idea with a bad deal for artists.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

My phone has a camera... i can set photos as wallpapers...

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I got a Note 2 at launch and was showing it off at work to people interested in it.

someone asked about the background and where I got it. said I took it and left it at that.

took the pic of the top of my bathroom trashcan while dumping some toxic waste.

pic is the same trashcan now, like me it's a bit dented, dirty, and doesn't open as well as it used to. but, it still works.

Screenshot_20240924-194405_Gallery

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

No offense but I wouldn't pay $49 for that. Maybe $48.75, but not $49.

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

$48.99, the lowest I'll go for you my friend

[–] [email protected] 154 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

I feel this is going to be an unpopular opinion, but if you want unique wallpapers, consider paying an actual artist, instead of an influencer

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago

I don't think that's going to be an unpopular opinion around here. Maybe a little tricky in the logistics of distinguishing between an artist and influencer and finding an artist who you like and can pay for a phone background, but other than that you're not going to find many Lemmings saying "no, pay an influencer!"

[–] [email protected] 44 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

If I want a unique wallpaper I go on a walk in the great outdoors and take a picture

[–] [email protected] 21 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Sounds pretty reasonable to me. Avoid sites like Fiver, though. Lots of AI bullshit pretending to be real art.

[–] [email protected] 37 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

Even before the flood of AI bullshit Fiverr really, really sucked for the human artists, creatives, coders, and other freelancers employed through the platform.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 3 weeks ago

I made a Fiverr account once for my art services. I deleted it within an hour of creation after reading how much money they would steal from my commissions.

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