Marques Brownlee’s wallpaper app, Panels, has landed him in scorching water with followers attributable to him monetizing most of the options in-app regardless of it simply functioning as one thing to alter the wallpaper in your telephone.
Because of this, he’s vowed to make it a “dramatically higher” free app and cost a lot much less for a similar content material. He acknowledged {that a} wallpaper app is already a distinct segment product, particularly contemplating that just about any trendy telephone enables you to change your wallpaper.
This was a significant level of criticism when the Panels app was initially introduced, with many customers expressing confusion as to why they’d wish to pay for wallpapers.
Marques Brownlee defined that he needed to create an app that’ll permit individuals to pay for wallpapers and assist the artists who created these backgrounds, however that the free expertise on Panels fell far wanting what he would have needed.
“This was a misjudgment on my half; this was terribly communicated. This must be a free app, it must be an ideal free app expertise for the overwhelming majority of the individuals who use it. I actually dropped the ball there,” he defined in his response video.
“The individuals had been proper. If I used to be reviewing this app, I wouldn’t have been very good.”
MKBHD defined that he’s solely eliminating adverts within the wallpaper feed, making that feed solely clear for customers. And, if individuals need a full-resolution wallpaper outdoors of a set, you possibly can obtain it after watching a fast advert. The YouTuber claims that the advert is supposed to “offset server costs and pay artists.”
And, whereas he’s nonetheless providing a subscription service, the costs have been considerably diminished. The subscription is now solely two {dollars} a month, bringing the yearly price right down to $24 if you wish to not have adverts.
Additionally, there’s one other subscription that’s $12 a month that’ll unlock each paid assortment for you and offer you each future wallpaper assortment. There’s additionally a reduced plan that’ll offer you this $12 a month tier, Panels +, for $50 a 12 months.
Fan reception has been virtually common reward for Brownlee tackling the controversy head-on and making modifications.
“‘If you happen to’re going to dish it out, you’ve acquired to have the ability to take it too’. Bingo, and anticipated nothing much less from Marques and crew. Onwards and upwards,” claimed one YouTube consumer.
“Admitted to the error, didn’t make excuses, fastened the issues that individuals introduced up. That is the way you reply to controversy,” praised one other.
He additionally claimed he’s acquired plenty of bug fixes and content material updates deliberate for the app, and that he plans to assist it for the foreseeable future.
