Polar Alignment: Polaris Aid — Privacy Policy
Last updated: 2026-09-26
This privacy policy applies to the mobile app "Polar Alignment: Polaris Aid"
(listed on Google Play as "Polar Alignment Scope Finder") on Android and iOS:
- Google Play: package com.simonj.polaralign, developer "Global Utility App Maker"
- Apple App Store: app ID 6811271970 (bundle ID com.simonj.polaralign),
seller "Kyu-Hee Jang"
The app is developed and operated by Kyu-Hee Jang (Google Play developer name:
Global Utility App Maker), referred to as "we" or "us".
Contact: wkdrb2100@gmail.com
OVERVIEW
Polar Alignment: Polaris Aid shows where Polaris (or the southern pole reference)
should sit in your polar-scope reticle. The hour angle, local sidereal time and
reticle position are calculated on your device from the date, time and
coordinates you provide. The app does not require an account, and we do not sell
personal data.
LOCATION
- The app asks for location permission only when you tap "Use my location" on
the Align screen. It uses foreground ("while using the app") access; background
location is not requested.
- It uses a recent position your device already has (up to 10 minutes old) or
requests one new position at balanced accuracy, and stops waiting after 15
seconds. It does not track your location continuously.
- The position fills in the latitude and longitude fields, rounded to 4 decimal
places (about 11 m). It is kept only if you then save a site or an alignment.
- Your coordinates are not sent to us, are not included in analytics events and
are not passed to the ad service by the app.
- If you decline, you can type the coordinates or pick a saved site instead.
LOCAL DATA
The following are stored in the app's storage on your device:
- Settings: reticle type, scope profile and view orientation, red night mode,
magnetic declination and the refraction-estimate setting.
- Observing sites (up to 20): the name you give them (up to 40 characters),
latitude, longitude and when they were created or last used.
- Alignment history (up to 50 entries): when it was calculated and saved,
latitude and longitude, site name, the pole star, clock position, hour angle,
sidereal time and related settings, whether the time was live or fixed, the
device's UTC offset and whether the coordinates came from a saved site.
- App state such as the time of the last review request and cached ad and
"more apps" configuration. If saved data is found to be damaged, a copy is
kept on the device so it is not silently lost.
If you choose to share, the CSV export of your alignment history or the image of
a single entry is created as a temporary file and passed to the app you select
in the system share sheet.
THIRD-PARTY SERVICES
- Google Firebase Analytics: app usage events (for example app launch, setup
completed, site saved, loaded or removed, location filled in, alignment
completed, and the scope profile, view orientation or hemisphere chosen), ad
revenue events, device and technical information and an app-instance
identifier, used to understand how the app is used. One event carries an
internal record identifier. Latitude, longitude, site names and the contents
of your history are not sent as event data.
- Google Firebase Crashlytics: crash reports and technical diagnostics, used to
keep the app stable.
- Google Firebase Firestore: the app downloads app configuration (such as ad
settings and a list of our other apps). It does not upload your data.
- Google AdMob: the advertising identifier (Android Advertising ID or iOS IDFA,
where permitted), device and network information, ad interaction data and IP
address (which may be used to estimate approximate location, even without
location permission), plus SDK diagnostics described in Google's disclosures,
used to show and measure ads, prevent fraud and diagnose ad delivery.
- Ad mediation partner: the app includes the InMobi adapter for Google AdMob
mediation. When AdMob selects InMobi to serve an ad, InMobi may receive similar
ad-request data (advertising identifier where permitted, device, network and IP
information, and consent signals) to show and measure that ad.
Apart from sharing you start yourself and device backups, the app sends data
automatically only to the services above, for the purposes above. We use these
services under their applicable terms, and we ensure that third-party service
providers with whom we share user data provide the same or equal protection of
that data as stated in this policy. See:
https://policies.google.com/privacy
https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy
https://developers.google.com/admob/android/privacy/play-data-disclosure
https://www.inmobi.com/privacy-policy
ADS CONSENT & TRACKING
Where required (for example in the EEA and UK), the app first uses Google's User
Messaging Platform (UMP) to ask for your consent for personalized ads. If you do
not allow personalized ads, the app does not show the iOS tracking prompt and
may show non-personalized ads. If the consent check cannot be completed, the app
does not request ads for that session.
On iOS, only after that step, the app requests App Tracking Transparency (ATT)
permission. If tracking is not allowed, the IDFA is not available to the app or
its ad partners.
Where a consent choice is required, you can change it later from the app menu
("Privacy choices"). Analytics and crash reporting are not controlled by these
ad choices.
PERMISSIONS
- Location (while using the app), only after you tap "Use my location".
- Internet access for ads, analytics and app configuration, and vibration for
button feedback.
The app does not ask for camera, microphone, contacts or photo library access.
DATA RETENTION & DELETION
- Local data: you can rename or delete saved sites and delete history entries
in the app. Uninstalling the app removes its local data from this device;
existing device or cloud backups are handled separately (see below).
- Data processed by Google Firebase, AdMob and InMobi is kept according to those
services' retention settings and policies. Uninstalling the app does not
delete data that was already sent to them.
- To request deletion of data associated with your use of the app, email us at
the address below. Because we do not ask for your name, email or account, we
may only be able to act on data we can link to you from the information you
provide, and we will explain any limits in our reply.
STORAGE & CONTROL
- Android: if device backup is enabled, app data may be included in your Google
backup and restored on reinstall.
- iOS: app data may be included in your iCloud or device backups according to
your device settings.
- You can turn location access off at any time in your device Settings.
- Android: you can reset or delete your Advertising ID in Settings > Google (or
Privacy) > Ads.
- iOS: you can change tracking permission in Settings > Privacy & Security >
Tracking.
SECURITY
Data sent to Google Firebase and AdMob is transmitted over encrypted (HTTPS/TLS)
connections. Local data is kept in the app's private storage area and is
protected by your device's operating system; it is not separately encrypted by
the app. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Results are calculations from the time, coordinates and settings you use. The
optional refraction correction is a standard-atmosphere estimate, not a
measurement of your local conditions, and a phone position can be off by some
distance. Check the result against the stars in your polar scope.
CHILDREN
This app is not directed to children under 13 and we do not knowingly collect
personal information from children.
CHANGES
We may update this policy. The "Last updated" date above will change accordingly.
CONTACT
Developer: Kyu-Hee Jang (Google Play: Global Utility App Maker)
Email: wkdrb2100@gmail.com