Effective 17 September 2026. Published by TheAppDevs_Team for MachineEar 1.0.1. Contact: w1lljsb84@gmail.com.
What the app processes
MachineEar compares short recordings with your own saved references. When you start a capture and grant microphone permission, it processes microphone samples and available phone motion sensors. Samples may incidentally contain voices or household sounds. Avoid conversation and media during capture. Recording is foreground and user initiated, not continuous monitoring.
The app stores machine labels, operating mode and placement descriptions, notes, numerical features, references, results and capture times locally. A local device identity helps prevent comparisons across different phones. Raw microphone samples are processed transiently and are not saved by default. If you enable audio saving, accepted recordings are stored in a separate encrypted vault for 7 days, 30 days or until deleted. New retention choices apply to future captures; existing expiry dates remain unchanged. Expiry cleanup runs when the app starts. Optional placement photos selected with the system picker are stored within encrypted profile data.
Storage and deletion
Feature and profile payloads use authenticated encryption with Android Keystore keys in app-private storage. Record IDs, kinds and timestamps are database metadata and are not whole-database encrypted. Settings use separate app-private storage. Android app backup is disabled. You can delete local records or erase app data. Deleting a check or machine removes associated vault recordings, and Erase destroys the vault key. Uninstalling removes app-private data. Copies you exported or shared remain outside the app.
Exports you choose
Reports, WAV audio files and password-protected archives are exported only through your action. Exported WAV audio is unencrypted; the numerical-feature archive excludes raw audio. Your chosen storage or sharing provider may process the exported file under its own policy. Reports can reveal machine labels, notes and comparison history. Archive protection depends on your passphrase; there is no passphrase recovery service. Keep exports only as long as you need them.
Offline release
MachineEar 1.0.1 is free, with no active advertising or in-app purchases. It does not request Internet permission. No developer analytics, account or cloud processing service is configured. Microphone samples, machine features and notes are not sent to the publisher or advertisers. Any future change to data processing will require an updated policy.
Permissions and your choices
Microphone access is for captures you start. You can revoke it in Android settings; capture will then be unavailable. Motion sensors are optional. Optional notifications provide a weekly reminder. Optional device authentication uses Android screen-lock or biometric facilities; MachineEar does not receive your fingerprint or biometric templates. You control exports and local deletion.
Contact and updates
Publisher: TheAppDevs_Team. For privacy questions, contact w1lljsb84@gmail.com. We cannot retrieve your local recordings or recover a lost archive passphrase. Changes to this policy will appear here with a revised effective date.