MKBHD launched the Panels Wallpapers (just called Panels on Android) app this week. The YouTuber personally curates high-resolution digital wallpapers from artists, but unlocking them costs $12 per month or $50 per year.

  • st3ph3n@midwest.social
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    135
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    2 months ago

    Canceled my ass. He’s getting some legitimate criticism about a wallpaper app, not being accused of raping someone.

  • qupada@fedia.io
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    25
    ·
    2 months ago

    While the price is undoubtedly an issue, I’m concerned this wasn’t higher up in the article

    Brownlee says the money from the app is split 50/50 with artists

    HALF? Like I get that people are going to sign up to get exposure, but that is a hefty premium for doing very. very little work.

    • BrikoXOPM
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      6
      ·
      2 months ago

      Yeah, worse than Google/Apple app store’s 30/70 split which is already a robbery.

    • BrikoXOPM
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      29
      ·
      2 months ago

      Mostly it comes down to hypocrisy. He’s been a vocal critic of identical “products” in the past when released by other companies, but now suddenly everything is fine when it is him doing it.

  • Blaze
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    6
    ·
    2 months ago

    Had a quick look at his iPhone review, stumbled upon this. What bullshit.

  • delirium@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    5
    ·
    2 months ago

    Same guy who said that if something exists for free there’s no reason to charge for this

  • Scott@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    5
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    2 months ago

    Think I’ll stick to wallpaper engine for Android, at least I can transfer wallpapers from my PC and only ever paid like $5

    • voracitude@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      17
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      2 months ago

      Okay, genuine question: why pay for an app like that at all when you can make any image your wallpaper for free? I mean, I like mine:

      Spoiler

      • Kraiden@kbin.earth
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        8
        ·
        2 months ago

        Because Wallpaper Engine lets you do a hell of a lot more than just static images. It’s exactly what it says on the tin. A software engine that you can set as a wallpaper. Think video wallpapers, touch effects, audio responsiveness, or straight up fully rendered 3D environments *

        * I have no idea how much of this actually works on Android. I’ve only used it on PC

        edit: video (recommend watching on mute)

          • Kraiden@kbin.earth
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            2 months ago

            link

            Looks like it supports a decent amount of features. Needs to be transferred from a windows install though

        • voracitude@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          edit-2
          2 months ago

          Okay, that’s pretty sick. Looks way cooler than MKBHD’s thing, sounds like that only does static images. I probably won’t use it on mobile (battery considerations) but on desktop…

      • Scott@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        4
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        2 months ago

        The Android app was free, the PC app was only like $5 and I got it years ago. It lets me migrate my wallpapers from PC to Android and have consistent live wallpapers across devices.

        • voracitude@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          2 months ago

          I didn’t know it could turn your desktop into a toy, I thought it was more like all those other wallpaper apps which just “help” you switch between images. Have you found the live wallpapers to be much of a battery drain on Android?

          • Cthuwu@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            4
            ·
            2 months ago

            Yeah it’s drains battery a bit faster, but I’ll usually end my day ~%25 vs ~%40 without. You can also change frame rate and quality of playback to min max performance

          • Scott@sh.itjust.works
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            3
            ·
            2 months ago

            I’ve barely seen any effect on battery life, though it depends on how much it’s actively using your device, polling for user input or playing sounds.

  • Possibly linux
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    2
    arrow-down
    7
    ·
    2 months ago

    Maybe you could just not use it? It seems like everyone is getting mad over something that doesn’t need to involve them. I persoanlly wouldn’t use this but I respect peoples choice and the free market.

    • shadowedcross@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      2 months ago

      What’s your point? The people who criticize it obviously won’t use it, and if others agree with their points, the product will at least see fewer users. What about the situation isn’t respecting choices or the free market?