C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Panels is introducing a brand new $2/mo subscription tier.
- Annoying advertisements are being faraway from the wallpaper feed, however you may select to observe brief advertisements to unlock HD content material.
- Permissions points have additionally been sorted, and the app has reined in its entry to that which is critical.
Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) has acquired to be some of the revered and beloved voices in cellular tech — so it was a little bit of a impolite awakening a pair weeks again when the web collectively turned on him within the wake of the discharge of his subscription-based wallpaper app, Panels, for iOS and Android. Relatively than pushing again towards that tide, Brownlee was fast to publicly embrace the criticism, and promised to do higher. In a brand new video out at present, the creator outlines what’s altering for Panels going ahead.
Slapping a brand new wallpaper in your cellphone generally is a fast, enjoyable option to make it really feel recent, so we perceive the need to at all times have entry to sizzling new designs — that’s precisely why we come by way of each week with our personal Wallpaper Wednesday, hooking you up with some nice choices to strive. Whilst you get these at Android Authority totally free, Brownlee determined to cost $12/month or $50/12 months for full entry to Panel’s wallpapers.
That pricing most likely would have been contentious sufficient, however issues over the broad, privacy-impacting permissions the app requested actually helped solidify the pushback towards Panels.
In his newest video, Brownlee takes a step again and begins by attempting to elucidate why he even started this mission within the first place. One of many first missteps he acknowledges is that Panels ought to have at all times been a free app, at the beginning. Going ahead, you’ll be capable to browse 1080p wallpapers totally free with out all of the annoying advertisements from earlier than — higher-res choices can be unlocked by selecting to observe an advert.
Relatively not even see that form of advert? Panels Plus subscriptions will now be accessible in two tiers, and for simply $2/month you may get all these full-res wallpapers with out the advertisements. Along with these one-off wallpapers, the app will characteristic collections of wallpapers from particular person artists, accessible for buy à la carte for a couple of dollars. However when you’d moderately simply unlock all collections without delay, the higher-tier Panels Plus limitless subscription is what you’ll need, and this one matches the previous $12/month pricing, or $50 yearly.
As for permissions and privateness, Brownlee admits that his workforce erred on the facet of telling app shops that Panels would probably be fascinated with much more entry than the app really makes use of in the meanwhile, and it actually didn’t have to shoot this broadly. That’s reportedly now being fastened.
Brownlee additionally goes over a number of criticism he’s heard concerning the app itself, simply as a bit of software program, and adjustments are already being made — wish to the way in which it now flags content material generated or manipulated with the assistance of AI. Should you’re a fan of Marques, you’ll need to give the entire thing a watch, as a result of it appears clear he actually cares right here and is listening to your ideas about find out how to make Panels higher.
What do you consider this complete controversy? Has MKBHD lastly sorted every part out, or are you continue to harboring dangerous emotions? Tell us within the feedback.