MKBHD's New Wallpaper App: Panels

Tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee, or MKBHD, has ventured beyond his usual reviewer role and launched a wallpaper app called Panels for iOS and Android. The app features personally curated high-quality digital wallpapers from artists, but it comes with a cost. Users have to pay a subscription fee of $50 per year or $12 per month to access high-resolution wallpapers without advertisements.

• Panels is available on both iOS and Android platforms.
• The app offers high-quality digital wallpapers curated by MKBHD.
• A subscription fee is required for ad-free access to high-resolution wallpapers.

MKBHD's Influence on Tech Reviews

MKBHD holds significant influence within the tech review community, boasting almost 20 million YouTube subscribers. His opinions on products can impact the success of companies. While some accuse him of tanking companies like Fisker and Humane with his negative reviews, others argue that these companies had inherent problems that contributed to their failures. MKBHD is widely known for his keen eye for detail and his discerning tech reviews, which likely influenced fans' expectations for his new app.

• MKBHD's YouTube channel has over 20 million subscribers.
• His reviews can significantly impact the perception and success of tech products.
• Some critics accuse him of influencing companies' failures, while others argue that his reviews reflect the products' flaws.

Panels: A Strong Premise With a Catch

Panels is based on the premise that MKBHD's device wallpapers have always been stylish and sought after by his viewers. The app addresses the frequent Google search queries asking about his wallpaper choices. Its launch coincides with the release of iOS 18, which emphasizes lock screen and home screen customization, making it an opportune moment to offer sleek, high-resolution wallpapers. However, the app's pricing has received criticism for being excessively high.

• Panels leverages the popularity of MKBHD's wallpaper choices.
• It offers high-resolution wallpapers optimized for iOS 18 customization.
• The app's high subscription fee has drawn criticism from users.

Panels: A Potential Income Stream for Digital Artists

Despite the controversies, Panels offers a potential income stream for digital artists. MKBHD states that payments are split 50-50 with artists, with Apple taking a 30% cut. The app aims to create a market for digital art, which is traditionally not as readily monetized as other forms of content. MKBHD believes his influential position could help make it successful for artists.

• Panels aims to provide digital artists with a new revenue stream.
• Revenue is split 50-50 between the artist and MKBHD, with Apple taking a 30% commission.
• MKBHD hopes his influence will create a market for digital art.

Panels: Data Privacy Concerns

Panels has been criticized for its extensive data collection practices. The App Store details that the app can track users' location, usage data, and personal identifiers across other apps and websites. MKBHD acknowledged these concerns and announced on X that they were addressing the issue, stating that they never intended to collect such information and that the broad data disclosures were likely influenced by ad networks. He also promised to reduce ad frequency for the free version of the app.

• Panels has faced criticism for its data collection policies.
• The app can track users' location, usage data, and personal identifiers.
• MKBHD has addressed the concerns and promised to fix the excessive data disclosures.

Panels: Initial Success and Future Potential

Despite the concerns, Panels has achieved early success. According to Appfigures, an app intelligence firm, Panels is currently the #1 app in the Photo & Video category in the iOS App Store for the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, and eighteen other countries. It also ranks among the top apps in Canada and the U.S. Whether Panels can maintain its popularity and overcome the criticisms remains to be seen, but the app's initial success suggests that it has tapped into a demand for high-quality, curated wallpapers.

• Panels has achieved early success in app stores.
• It is currently the #1 app in the Photo & Video category in several countries.
• The app's future success hinges on its ability to address user concerns and maintain its popularity.