Developers looking for a head start on their next wallpaper app project just got an unexpected gift. MKBHD has made the entire Panels codebase available on GitHub, giving anyone the chance to pick up where his team left off. The catch? Panels itself is shutting down after roughly a year in operation.
In an unlisted YouTube video posted today, Marques Brownlee announced the decision. “After a lot of deliberation, I’ve decided to sunset the Panels app this week,” he said. The project started from a question that kept appearing in his video comments: “Where’d you get that wallpaper?” What began as a way to answer that turned into something more ambitious, a platform to support artists and create a curated hub for wallpaper enthusiasts.
For a while, things were going well. Panels reached number one in the photos category on both app stores and hit over 2 million wallpaper downloads by the end of summer. But sustainability proved elusive. “We knew it was niche, but we made mistakes in making our first app,” Brownlee admitted.
Panels had a rocky launch too. The app drew criticism for its pricing model and data collection practices early on. That rough introduction probably didn’t help its chances of building a loyal user base.
Still, the open-source move has earned Brownlee some respect online. “Open-sourcing is THE best thing anyone can do after they shut their app down, respect,” one user wrote on X. Another praised him saying, “You could not have handled this any better!”
Not everyone’s impressed though. Some users spotted contradictions in his messaging. “It’s really niche and it’s not about making money… We are closing it because it didn’t make enough money. Huh?!?” one quipped. Others questioned the logic of putting a wallpaper app behind a paywall from the start.\
This isn’t Brownlee’s first brush with controversy, but releasing the code for free is a respectable move. For a project that couldn’t quite find its footing, it’s not a bad way to bow out.
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Dwayne Cubbins
1377 Posts
For nearly a decade, I've been deciphering the complexities of the tech world, with a particular passion for helping users navigate the ever-changing tech landscape. From crafting in-depth guides that unlock your phone's hidden potential to uncovering and explaining the latest bugs and glitches, I make sure you get the most out of your devices. And yes, you might occasionally find me ranting about some truly frustrating tech mishaps.
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