Privacy Policy
This policy describes how Highapps (“we”) handles information in the Light Meter app on Android and iOS. Light Meter is a photography aid that suggests camera exposure from the light around you. It is a paid download on Google Play and the App Store. It does not show ads and does not use an advertising ID.
We do not operate our own user database or login. We do not require an account, name, email, or phone number to use the app.
What the app does
- Incident measures light falling on the subject. On Android it uses the phone’s ambient light sensor when one is present. On iOS (no ambient light sensor) it estimates lux from short stills on the front camera — you must allow camera access for Incident on iOS.
- Reflection measures light bouncing off the scene. It uses the rear camera on both platforms: a live preview plus a still whose ISO, shutter, and aperture are read from capture metadata (EXIF), then converted to lux and EV on the device (calibration C = 250).
- You set ISO, shutter, aperture, EV step, optional exposure compensation, and an ND filter. Copy reading puts the last exposure on the system clipboard.
- Uses Firebase Analytics and Firebase Crashlytics (Google) to understand usage and fix crashes.
Readings are estimates only. The app is not a calibrated laboratory or handheld meter. Values vary by phone. It is not for legal, regulatory, scientific, or professional certification use.
Information we do not collect
Light Meter does not ask for, and the app does not read:
- Your name, email, phone number, or payment details (except if you email us yourself)
- Precise or approximate location
- Contacts, microphone, or your photo library / camera roll
- Account credentials (there is no sign-in)
- An Android Advertising ID or Apple IDFA. Advertising ID collection is disabled. The Android app removes the advertising-ID permission. The iOS app uses Firebase Analytics without IDFA and does not show App Tracking Transparency because it does not track you across apps for ads.
We do not sell your personal information. The app does not serve ads.
Data stored on your device
The following stays on the phone unless you copy or share it, or the OS backs the app up:
- Meter preferences: theme, EV step, exposure compensation, ND filter, keep-screen-on, last ISO / shutter / aperture, record-max, and (Android only) volume-key metering and orientation lock.
- The last Incident or Reflection reading shown in the UI, until you measure again.
Android stores this in app private preferences. iOS stores it in UserDefaults (declared in the app’s privacy manifest as UserDefaults access for app functionality). Uninstalling the app, or clearing app storage, deletes it. If the device uses iCloud / Android backup, those preferences may be included in your backup and restored if you reinstall.
Camera and light sensor
Camera frames and ambient-light samples are processed on the device to compute lux, EV, and exposure. We do not stream a live camera or sensor feed to Highapps servers. We do not save pictures to your gallery.
- Android Incident: ambient light sensor only. Denying camera does not block Incident when a light sensor is present.
- iOS Incident: short front-camera stills while you measure (system camera indicator may appear). No on-screen camera preview for Incident.
- Reflection (both): rear-camera preview and a still. On Android the still is written to the app cache, metadata is read, then the file is deleted. On iOS the still is handled in memory / the capture pipeline and is not saved to Photos.
Summary figures from a completed measurement (for example lux, EV, ISO, shutter, aperture, ND, hold duration, and whether the source was the light sensor, a front-camera estimate, or camera EXIF) may be sent to Firebase Analytics as described below. The image itself is not uploaded to Highapps.
Camera access is requested only when needed (iOS Incident, and Reflection on both platforms). You can refuse or later revoke it in system Settings; those features will not measure until access is granted.
Analytics and crash reporting
We use Google Firebase Analytics and Firebase Crashlytics on Android and iOS (same Firebase project). Analytics collection is enabled so we can keep the product stable and understand usage. Crashlytics is enabled so we can diagnose failures. Google may also receive device and network metadata typical of those SDKs (for example IP address, device model, OS version, app version).
Typical events and properties include:
- Screens opened (Incident, Reflection, Settings, About, Guide)
- Measure flow (start, success, cancel, timeout, no sensor, camera permission denied) and the sensor source
- ISO / shutter / aperture / ND and metering-mode changes; volume-key steps on Android
- Setting changes (theme, EV step, compensation, and similar keys)
- Share, feedback, copy-reading, and About links (website, privacy policy, More Apps)
- User properties: platform (Android or iOS), theme, whether a camera and light sensor are present
- Crash logs, stack traces, and non-fatal errors we report from the app
Ad personalization and advertising-ID collection are off. There is no AdMob SDK.
Firebase privacy:
firebase.google.com/support/privacy
Google Privacy Policy:
policies.google.com/privacy
How Google uses information from apps:
policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites
Permissions
- Internet — analytics, crash reporting, and opening this policy, the website, Play Store links, or email.
- Camera — Incident on iOS (front camera estimate) and Reflection on Android and iOS (rear camera). Optional on Android if you only use Incident with a light sensor.
- Light sensor (Android) — hardware feature for Incident; not a runtime permission dialog.
The app does not request location, microphone, contacts, photos library, or tracking / App Tracking Transparency.
Sharing, clipboard, and links
- Copy reading writes the last exposure text to the system clipboard on the device. We do not upload that text to Highapps.
-
Share opens the system share sheet with a short message.
Android includes the Play Store listing
(
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=am.highapps.lightmeter). iOS includes this product page (https://highapps.am/lightmeter/) until an App Store listing is live. The app you pick (Messages, Mail, and so on) then applies its own policy. - Feedback opens email (or a chooser) to highapps2019@gmail.com with app version and device lines you can edit before sending.
- More Apps is shown on Android only and opens the HighApps Play Store developer page. It is hidden on iOS.
- About also links to this policy and to highapps.am.
Children
Light Meter is a photography tool. It is not directed at children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 (or under the digital-consent age in your country, such as 16 in parts of the EU). If you believe a child has used the app in a way that sent data to Google, contact us and we will help as far as the third-party consoles allow.
Your choices
- Camera — grant or revoke in Android or iOS Settings.
- Share / copy / feedback — only when you tap those actions.
- On-device settings — change them in the app, or uninstall.
- This policy — linked from About in the app.
Security
Traffic to Google (analytics and crashes) uses encrypted connections provided by those SDKs. Preferences stay in the app’s private storage. No method of electronic storage or internet transmission is completely secure.
Changes
We may update this policy when the app’s data practices change (for example new platforms, sensors, or analytics). The “Last updated” date at the top will change. Continued use after an update means you accept the revised policy.
Contact
Highapps
Email: highapps2019@gmail.com
Questions about this policy, Light Meter, or a privacy request can be sent to that address.