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.

      • yggstyle@lemmy.worldEnglish
        152·
        2 months ago

        Nah it’d be cheaper to commission the artist for a dozen or so pictures for 45 bucks:

        First you need to blow some ungodly amount of money on breaking the time/space barrier… Then travel back to the 1920s and find a starving artist. Then pitch him 45 bucks for some art. Easy! 45 bucks to them is like 800 of our today dollars.

        Sarcasm aside- it seems people really are disconnected on how much a commission or art costs. Sure you can buy prints reasonably priced but any commission that isn’t a speedy doodle is going to clock in a helluva lot higher.

    • MagnyusG@lemmy.worldEnglish
      161·
      2 months ago

      For a single piece sure.

      I presume the idea here is that you have access to their full library. Personally, I fail to see why I would change my wallpaper enough to warrant even a free app to change it, let alone 50 bucks.

    • yggstyle@lemmy.worldEnglish
      91·
      2 months ago

      If you know an artist doing commissions that cheap they are depressed, desperate, or want to fuck you.