Privacy Policy

Last updated: June 2026

1. Introduction

AstroDeck ("I", "me", "the Service") is developed and operated by App Comin. This Privacy Policy explains how I collect, use, and protect information when you use AstroDeck across all platforms: the website, Android mobile app, Wear OS app, Android TV app, Android Auto, OEM Automotive builds, the iOS / iPadOS app, and the Apple Watch (watchOS) companion app.

2. Platforms Covered

This policy applies to:

  • >AstroDeck Web — getastrodeck.com
  • >AstroDeck for Android — mobile app (Google Play)
  • >AstroDeck for Wear OS — smartwatch companion app
  • >AstroDeck for Android TV — television app
  • >AstroDeck for Android Auto — car display (phone-projected)
  • >AstroDeck OEM Automotive — standalone app for car infotainment systems
  • >AstroDeck for iOS & iPadOS — iPhone & iPad app (Apple App Store)
  • >AstroDeck for Apple Watch — watchOS companion app

3. Information Collected

Location Data

  • >Web: With your permission, I use your browser's geolocation API for location-specific features. Your location is processed locally in your browser and cached in localStorage. It is not stored on my servers.
  • >Android & Wear OS: With your permission, I access device GPS (fine and coarse location) to provide aurora forecasts, satellite pass predictions, and local astronomical data. Location is used on-device and sent only to third-party APIs (listed in Section 5) to fetch relevant data. The Android app may access location in the background to deliver timely aurora and geomagnetic storm alerts.
  • >Android TV: Location may be accessed if available on the device to display region-specific astronomical data. Most TV devices do not have GPS hardware.
  • >Android Auto & OEM Automotive: Location is obtained from the vehicle's infotainment system or connected phone to display local weather, aurora visibility, and space weather conditions while driving.
  • >iOS, iPadOS & Apple Watch: With your permission, Core Location provides "When In Use" or "Always" latitude/longitude (the latter is requested only for aurora alert gating during night-time). Location is processed on-device and forwarded to the same third-party data APIs as the other platforms. The watchOS app inherits the iPhone's authorization and does not maintain its own location stream.

Device Permissions (Mobile Apps)

  • >Notifications: Used to deliver aurora alerts, geomagnetic storm warnings, and astronomical event reminders. On iOS / iPadOS this requires explicit consent through the system prompt (UNUserNotificationCenter). You can disable notifications at any time in your device settings.
  • >Internet & Network State: Required to fetch real-time space weather data, satellite positions, and weather forecasts from external APIs.
  • >Motion / Compass (iOS & Android): The Star Chart feature reads the device's magnetometer to map your phone's heading onto a constellation. Heading data is used in-memory only and is never stored or transmitted.
  • >Body Sensors (Wear OS only): Declared for compatibility with Wear OS platform requirements. AstroDeck does not collect or store health or fitness data. The Apple Watch app does not request HealthKit or any health data.
  • >Boot Completed (Android): Used to reschedule background alert checks after device restart, ensuring you continue to receive timely notifications. iOS handles equivalent behaviour through background fetch entitlements granted by the system.
  • >App Tracking Transparency (iOS): AstroDeck does NOT track you across apps or websites and does NOT trigger the iOS App Tracking Transparency prompt.

Account & Personal Data

AstroDeck does not require user registration on any platform. The Android app uses anonymous authentication (Firebase Anonymous Auth) to manage premium features — no name, email, or personal information is collected. On iOS the PRO unlock is handled by Apple's in-app purchase system (StoreKit 2); App Comin receives only the obfuscated transaction identifier from Apple and never the Apple ID or payment details.

Usage Data & Analytics

  • >Web: Anonymous usage statistics may be collected through the hosting provider (Cloudflare Pages), including page views, browser type, and general geographic region.
  • >Android & Wear OS: Firebase Analytics collects anonymous usage data such as feature usage, session duration, and device type to help improve the app. Firebase Crashlytics collects anonymous crash reports. No personally identifiable information is included.
  • >iOS, iPadOS & Apple Watch: The Apple builds use Firebase Cloud Messaging (push notifications) and Firebase Crashlytics, which collects anonymous crash reports to help us fix stability issues. No personally identifiable information is collected and Firebase Analytics is NOT included. Apple may also collect aggregate App Store usage metrics independently (see Apple's privacy policy).
  • >TV, Auto & OEM Automotive: These platforms do not include Firebase or any analytics services. No usage data is collected.

4. How Information Is Used

  • >To provide location-aware features (aurora forecasts, satellite passes, solar data, weather)
  • >To deliver timely push notifications for geomagnetic storms and astronomical events
  • >To display relevant astronomical and space weather data for your region
  • >To sync preferences between your phone and Wear OS watch
  • >To improve the Service based on aggregated, anonymous usage patterns

5. Third-Party Services

AstroDeck fetches data from the following external APIs. These services have their own privacy policies:

Data APIs (All Platforms)

  • >NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (swpc.noaa.gov)
  • >NASA APIs (api.nasa.gov, power.larc.nasa.gov)
  • >N2YO Satellite Tracking API (n2yo.com)
  • >OpenWeatherMap API (openweathermap.org) — weather data for Auto/OEM/TV
  • >CelesTrak (celestrak.org) — satellite orbital data

Mapping Services

  • >Google Maps (Android mobile app)
  • >Apple MapKit (iOS, iPadOS, Apple Watch) — Apple does not associate map queries with your Apple ID
  • >OpenStreetMap (Auto, OEM Automotive, TV, Web) — map tiles and geocoding
  • >CARTO (basemaps.cartocdn.com) — map tiles for web

Apple Services (iOS, iPadOS & Apple Watch)

  • >Apple Push Notification service (APNs) — delivery transport for aurora and event alerts
  • >StoreKit 2 — handles the PRO subscriptions (monthly / yearly) and the one-time lifetime unlock, plus receipts; payment data stays with Apple
  • >WeatherKit — Apple-provided weather data (subject to Apple's Weather Data terms)
  • >Watch Connectivity framework — local Bluetooth handoff of preferences between iPhone and Apple Watch
  • >Firebase Cloud Messaging (Google) — routing layer for aurora and event push notifications, paired with APNs
  • >Firebase Crashlytics (Google) — anonymous crash reports to help us fix stability issues; no personal data

Google Services (Android & Wear OS Only)

  • >Firebase Cloud Messaging — push notifications for alerts
  • >Firebase Analytics — anonymous usage statistics
  • >Firebase Crashlytics — anonymous crash reporting
  • >Firebase Remote Config — feature flags and global announcements
  • >Google AdMob — advertising in the free version of the mobile app

OEM Automotive Note

The OEM Automotive build does not include Google Play Services, Firebase, AdMob, or any Google-dependent services. It operates independently using only open APIs (NOAA, NASA, OpenWeatherMap) and OpenStreetMap for mapping.

6. Advertising

The free version of the Android mobile app displays ads served by Google AdMob. AdMob may collect device identifiers and usage data according to Google's advertising policies. You can opt out of personalized ads through your device's ad settings.

No other platform (Wear OS, TV, Auto, OEM Automotive, Web, iOS, iPadOS, Apple Watch) displays advertising. The iOS / iPadOS app monetises exclusively through the optional AstroDeck PRO — an auto-renewable subscription (monthly or yearly) or a one-time lifetime purchase.

7. In-App Purchases & Refunds

AstroDeck offers optional PRO access that unlocks premium features (advanced widgets and watch complications, aurora alerts, the Aurora data centre, themes, star-chart customisation and more) and removes ads on Android. On iOS / iPadOS, PRO is an auto-renewable subscription (monthly or yearly) or a one-time lifetime purchase; on Android it is a one-time unlock. Purchases are processed entirely by the platform store:

  • >Android: Google Play Billing. Refund requests are governed by Google's policies — see Google Play Refund Policy.
  • >iOS / iPadOS: Apple StoreKit 2. Subscriptions can be managed or cancelled at any time in your Apple Account settings, and refund requests are handled directly through Apple — see Apple App Store Refund Policy.

App Comin does not store credit card information, billing addresses, or any payment data. Purchase receipts are validated through the respective platform's receipt-validation API so the PRO entitlement can be restored on a new device.

8. Data Storage & Local Preferences

  • >Web: Browser localStorage is used to cache your preferences (unit system, location, theme). No tracking cookies are used. For details, see the Cookie Policy.
  • >Android & Wear OS: SharedPreferences stores your settings (units, alert thresholds, notification preferences) locally on your device. The Wear Data Layer API syncs settings between your phone and watch over Bluetooth.
  • >iOS, iPadOS & Apple Watch: UserDefaults (within an App Group container) stores your preferences locally. The Watch Connectivity framework transfers preferences between iPhone and Apple Watch over the local Bluetooth pairing. Data never leaves the paired devices and is never uploaded to App Comin.
  • >TV, Auto & OEM: Preferences are stored locally on the device using SharedPreferences. No data is synced externally.

9. Data Security

All network communication across every platform uses HTTPS (TLS 1.2 or higher) encryption. The website is hosted on Cloudflare Pages. The Android apps enforce TLS 1.2+ by default (minimum SDK Android 10). The iOS / iPadOS / watchOS apps inherit App Transport Security with the default secure configuration. No cleartext HTTP traffic is permitted in any build.

I do not collect or store personal data on my own servers. Location data and preferences remain on your device. Data sent to third-party APIs is limited to what is necessary to provide the requested features (e.g., latitude/longitude for weather forecasts).

10. Your Rights

  • >Location: You can revoke location permissions at any time through your browser, phone, watch, TV, or car infotainment system settings. On iOS, the in-app Permissions screen deep-links straight to Settings.app for the app entry.
  • >Notifications: You can disable notifications in your device settings or within the app's alert preferences. iOS / iPadOS users can also use Focus / Do Not Disturb to silence them temporarily.
  • >Analytics: The iOS / iPadOS / watchOS apps do not collect analytics. On Android you can opt out of Firebase Analytics data collection through your device settings under Google > Ads.
  • >Local Data: You can clear cached data by clearing the app's data/storage in your device settings, deleting the app, or clearing your browser's localStorage. iOS additionally lets you offload the app while keeping documents intact.
  • >Ads: You can opt out of personalized advertising through your Android device ad settings. The iOS / iPadOS / watchOS apps do not show ads.
  • >Purchase History: Refund and purchase history for the PRO unlock are managed by the app store (Google Play or Apple App Store). See Section 7 for the relevant policy links.

11. Children's Privacy

AstroDeck is not directed at children under 13. I do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided personal data through any AstroDeck platform, please contact me so I can take appropriate action.

12. Changes to This Policy

I may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. Continued use of any AstroDeck platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact

For privacy-related questions about any AstroDeck platform, contact me at contact@appcomin.com or visit appcomin.com/contact.