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Comment by notaustinpowers | Hacker News Reader

The app is a repository of artist-submitted and curated wallpapers. The app allows for SD downloads, but you have to watch 2 ads, or HD downloads if you have a subscription ($12/month or $50/year).

The pushback is due to multiple factors:

- Quite a few of the wallpapers are simple gradients, and one is just the color orange. So they don't quite feel "curated".

- The app asks for some unnecessary permissions (cross-app/site tracking, and location tracking).

- The app doesn't look to be something that was actually made by MKBHD and his team. It's had an online presence since 2021. To many, it feels like he just bought it, slapped his name on it, and is using his "brand" to push an inferior product.

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FWIW he says your last point is false: https://x.com/MKBHD/status/1838583491413360781

> The Twitter account is from 2021 because it's a salvaged username from an inactive account. The app was built from scratch.

Thanks! Didn't see that update from him.

> Quite a few of the wallpapers are simple gradients, and one is just the color orange. So they don't quite feel "curated".

Then ask for a refund. Don’t go and steal the content.

> The app asks for some unnecessary permissions (cross-app/site tracking, and location tracking).

Then ask for a refund. Don’t go and steal the content.

> The app doesn't look to be something that was actually made by MKBHD and his team.

Then ask for a refund. Don’t go and steal the content.

Sorry, when did I say anything about stealing the content?

> Quite a few of the wallpapers are simple gradients, and one is just the color orange. So they don't quite feel "curated"

Pardon my language but then don't fckng use the app!

What if you put your car for sale for $20K and then someone else says: nah that piece of junk is not worth that much and then steal it from you and give it to someone else for free. That seems to be what's happening here.

There's no scarcity to digital data, that analogy is a bit ridiculous.

Well, I'm not using the app, so... But that doesn't absolve someone of public ridicule or commentary.

MKBHD, who has been a huge proponent of privacy, asking for my LOCATION for a wallpaper app? You and I both know its for ad targeting, and happens whether you're paying a subscription or not.

Also, where in my original comment did I say anything about stealing the artwork?

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