Wallpaper & Background 2.4

Let’s face it. You don’t need an app to get a decent array of wallpapers onto your iDevice. You can just feed the iPhone any images you find on the web, even crop and edit them using specialized imaging apps (either on your desktop computer or the phone itself) and just save them to the camera roll.

But some wallpaper apps make it a much easier job. First of all, these apps come pre loaded with crisp imagery that would otherwise take eons to find on the web. Secondly, some of them actually let you make your own wallpapers.

Visually appealing

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m taken with the awesome imagery found in wallpaper apps. Although most of them (including this one) are IAP cash cows, you can get away with zero purchases by just saving the pictures that the developer threw in for free and be done with it.

And I’ll also admit that some IAPs are really worth making in apps like the one we’re currently looking at. The visuals alone are worth the buy, but the experience is somewhat hindered by the constant display of ads and nag screens.

Hundreds of HD wallpapers, constantly renewed

Wave Wang’s app gets new wallpaper packs every now and then, but that’s only if you don’t mind making a few in-app purchases every now and then. It also wouldn’t hurt to categorize the images.

As it stands, Wallpaper & Background basically just dumps a truckload of pictures on your phone, with only a handful of sections: icons, cartoon, abstract and nature.

Customization options

One thing iOS has always lacked is customization. For example, without any specialized tools or a jailbreak, you can’t assign a different color to the the status bar at the top. With this app, you can. It also lets you create rows or boxes for your apps, as well as blur the background image.

All in all it’s a pretty decent tool for making your own wallpapers, spiting Apple for restricting these actions on your end.

Too many IAPs

If you’re the type who gets easily drawn into IAPs, I have a piece of advice for you. Hold off any purchase until you see what you can get out of the free version. It’s bad enough that it displays two ads every time you launch the app. What’s worse is that the locked extras aren’t tucked behind just a single in-app purchase. They require multiple IAPs on your behalf for unlocking, and that’s something for which we must shave off some points.

Add to watchlist:

WallpaperEditorDownloader

• Photowall 1.1
• Blurred Wallpapers Free 1.5
• 500px 2.9.2
• Autodesk SketchBook 3.1.2
• VSCO Cam 4.1
• iStock by Getty Images 1.6.1
• Wallpapers for iOS 7 3.1