Privacy Policy
Solar Energy Forecast ("Solar Forecast", "we", "our", or "us") is provided by Maksym Buradchuk, also publishing under the MaxSaur name. This Privacy Policy explains what information may be processed when you use the app on iOS or Android, how that information is used, and what choices you have.
Overview
Solar Forecast is a solar weather forecast app that helps estimate daily solar potential for a selected location. It does not require you to create an account. App settings and saved locations are stored on your device.
Information We May Process
Depending on how you use the app, Solar Forecast may process:
- Location data, if you allow location access, to detect your current place and show local solar weather information.
- Search and map input, such as a city name, address, or coordinates, when you search for a place or select one on the map.
- App preferences and saved content stored on your device, such as your selected location, saved locations, language choice, and first-launch location prompt status, and app review prompt counters.
- Standard technical request data processed by third-party services, such as IP address or device/network metadata that may be included in internet requests made to weather, geocoding, or map tile providers.
- App usage and diagnostic information collected through Firebase Analytics, such as app opens, screen views, session activity, approximate location, device type, operating system, app version, language, app instance identifiers, device identifiers, and other standard analytics signals.
Location Data
Location access is optional. If you grant permission, the app may use your device location to find your current place and retrieve weather and solar forecast information for that area.
If you do not grant location access, you can still use the app by manually searching for and selecting locations.
Solar Forecast is not designed as a background location tracking service.
How We Use Information
Information processed by the app may be used to:
- show weather forecasts and solar potential insights;
- let you search for places and select your current location;
- store your settings and saved locations on your device;
- temporarily cache weather data in memory to improve speed and reduce repeat requests;
- support app maintenance and reliability;
- understand how the app is used, which screens are opened, whether forecasts load successfully, and how to improve app reliability and features.
Analytics
Solar Forecast uses Firebase Analytics, a Google service, to understand general app usage and improve the app. Analytics data may include automatically collected events, such as first app open, app open, session start, and screen views, as well as app events logged by Solar Forecast, such as selected location source, forecast load success or failure, settings opens, and language changes.
Analytics reports may include approximate geography, device and platform information, app version, language, app instance identifiers, device identifiers, and engagement metrics. We do not use Firebase Analytics to show third-party advertising in the app. We do not send precise coordinates or exact selected addresses as custom analytics event parameters.
Data Storage
Solar Forecast stores some information locally on your device using app storage. This may include your selected location, saved locations, language settings, first-launch location prompt status, and app review prompt counters.
Weather forecast responses may be cached in memory for a short time while the app is running, to reduce repeated network requests. This cache is not designed as cloud storage.
We do not provide user accounts or cloud sync in the current version of the app.
Third-Party Services
Solar Forecast relies on third-party services to provide core app functionality. These services may process data under their own privacy policies.
- Visual Crossing Weather for weather and forecast data.
- OpenStreetMap Nominatim for place search and reverse geocoding.
- OpenStreetMap for map tiles shown in the location picker.
- Firebase / Google Analytics for Firebase for app analytics, usage measurement, and diagnostics.
- Apple App Store and Google Play services may also process data when you download the app, leave a review, or interact with platform features provided by your device.
What We Do Not Currently Use
At the time of this policy, Solar Forecast does not include:
- user account registration or login;
- in-app advertising;
- third-party analytics SDKs for ad targeting;
- background location tracking for continuous monitoring.
Data Retention
Data stored locally on your device remains there until you remove it, change it, clear the app's data, or uninstall the app. Data processed by third-party providers is governed by their own retention practices and privacy policies.
Security
We take reasonable steps to protect information processed by the app. However, no method of electronic storage or internet transmission is completely secure, and absolute security cannot be guaranteed.
Children's Privacy
Solar Forecast is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided personal information, please contact us so we can take appropriate action.
Links to Other Sites
The app or this policy may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those third parties, and we encourage you to review their privacy policies.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any updates will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or suggestions about this Privacy Policy, please contact Maksym Buradchuk (MaxSaur) at newmaxnic@gmail.com.