C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Panels is introducing a brand new $2/mo subscription tier.
- Annoying adverts are being faraway from the wallpaper feed, however you possibly can select to look at quick adverts 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 bought 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. Slightly than pushing again in opposition to that tide, Brownlee was fast to publicly embrace the criticism, and promised to do higher. In a brand new video out in the present day, the creator outlines what’s altering for Panels going ahead.
Slapping a brand new wallpaper in your telephone is usually a fast, enjoyable strategy to make it really feel contemporary, so we perceive the need to all the time have entry to scorching 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 attempt. When you get these at Android Authority without spending a dime, Brownlee determined to cost $12/month or $50/12 months for full entry to Panel’s wallpapers.
That pricing in all probability would have been contentious sufficient, however considerations over the broad, privacy-impacting permissions the app requested actually helped solidify the pushback in opposition to Panels.
In his newest video, Brownlee takes a step again and begins by making an attempt to clarify why he even started this undertaking within the first place. One of many first missteps he acknowledges is that Panels ought to have all the time been a free app, in the beginning. Going ahead, you’ll be capable to browse 1080p wallpapers without spending a dime with out all of the annoying adverts from earlier than — higher-res choices can be unlocked by selecting to look at an advert.
Slightly not even see that type of advert? Panels Plus subscriptions will now be out there in two tiers, and for simply $2/month you may get all these full-res wallpapers with out the adverts. Along with these one-off wallpapers, the app will function collections of wallpapers from particular person artists, out there for buy à la carte for a couple of dollars. However for those who’d quite 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 doubtlessly be all for much more entry than the app really makes use of in the mean time, and it actually didn’t have to shoot this broadly. That’s reportedly now being fastened.
Brownlee additionally goes over a variety of criticism he’s heard in regards to the app itself, simply as a bit of software program, and adjustments are already being made — wish to the best way it now flags content material generated or manipulated with the assistance of AI. Should you’re a fan of Marques, you’ll wish 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 how one can make Panels higher.
What do you consider this complete controversy? Has MKBHD lastly sorted all the things out, or are you continue to harboring unhealthy emotions? Tell us within the feedback.