Marques Brownlee’s wallpaper application, known as Panels, is set to discontinue operations on December 31st, concluding its relatively brief and turbulent existence barely one year after its much-debated introduction. In a video published on his widely followed MKBHD YouTube channel, Brownlee offered an introspective commentary on the decision, candidly admitting that the team had made numerous mistakes while developing their very first software product. He further explained that despite ambitious intentions, the final outcome diverged significantly from the original creative and functional vision he had imagined. This acknowledgment served not only as an expression of accountability but also as an illustration of the complex learning process that accompanies innovative digital ventures.
When Panels was initially launched in September 2024, it immediately provoked a substantial wave of criticism and disappointment across online communities and technology forums. The most frequent objection centered on its premium subscription fees, viewed by many as disproportionately high for a wallpaper application, coupled with a business model that integrated advertisements in ways users found intrusive. These contentious aspects quickly positioned Panels at the center of intense public scrutiny, with some supporters praising its design potential while others questioned whether it offered sufficient value to justify its pricing structure. The controversy revealed how even creators with established credibility in the tech space are not immune to the intense expectations and unforgiving feedback cycles that characterize consumer app markets.
Amid ongoing challenges, a statement later posted to the official Panels website provided additional context surrounding the difficulties the project encountered. It explained that earlier in the year, the composition of the development team had undergone significant changes, forcing Brownlee and his partners to seek new collaborators capable of carrying forward the shared passion, technical skill, and creative philosophy foundational to the app’s original concept. Unfortunately, despite earnest and repeated efforts to recruit the right individuals, the team was unable to identify contributors who fully aligned with that vision. Faced with this mismatch and the growing realization that maintaining the product without the resources to expand or improve would compromise its integrity, the decision was made to close the project entirely rather than allow it to stagnate. The message described this decision as an effort to make a “clean break,” a deliberate and constructive conclusion designed to preserve respect for both users and the creative ideals behind the app.
As part of this wind-down, all existing user data associated with Panels will be permanently deleted following the app’s shutdown, ensuring that privacy and data protection remain top priorities. Brownlee also announced an additional step aimed at supporting transparency and community collaboration: once the shutdown process is complete, the Panels source code will be released publicly as open-source material on GitHub. By doing so, he intends to provide developers and fans alike with the opportunity to examine, learn from, and even build upon the work that the Panels team produced during its brief lifespan. Furthermore, all active subscriptions will be automatically terminated once the app is removed from major app stores, and users with ongoing paid plans will receive refunds after December 31st. Collectively, these measures reflect a conscientious and ethically minded closure—one that seeks to transform an imperfect experiment into a meaningful learning opportunity for the broader creator and developer community.
Sourse: https://www.theverge.com/news/835090/mkbhd-panels-wallpaper-app-shutdown
