Marques Brownlee says he’s working to dial back the ads.

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.

  • @SquizzyEnglish
    0•2 hours ago

    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.

    • @ilinamoratoEnglish
      0•1 hour ago

      Im not rich and I use my phone without a case

      I guess you could also have fairly sticky hands.

      and watch some of those reviews.

      Yeah, sometimes I do too, if only for the novelty of it. But they’re certainly not for us.

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

      Citation needed. Do you have any data on the app’s profit share structure? Because at the price they’re charging, if they’re passing on a decent share of it to the artists, it sounds like it’s not a bad gig.

      • @SquizzyEnglish
        1•46 minutes ago

        Fifty fifty is what MKB said was the split, which is a predatory figure. Apple charges less and people are up in arms about their predatory practices.

        I dont know what the sticky hands comment means.