HomiLabs ToolsPrivacy Policy
Our tools are built to work without accounts and, wherever possible, without collecting anything. Each app has its own section below that says exactly what it uses. If an app's section says it collects nothing, it collects nothing.
1. Who we are
The apps listed on tools.homilabs.org ("the tools") are made by HomiLabs ("we", "us"). This policy covers the tools and this website. Contact: homilabs.smc@gmail.com.
2. Our approach
- No accounts. None of the tools asks you to sign up or log in.
- On-device first. Settings and preferences are stored only on your device and are removed when you uninstall the app.
- Least permissions. A tool only asks for a permission when a feature cannot work without it, and its section below explains why.
- No selling of data. We never sell personal information.
3. Advertising
Some tools may be supported by advertising. A tool shows ads only if its section below says so, and that section then names the ad provider, what the provider collects (for example the device's advertising ID, approximate location derived from the IP address, and how you interact with ads) and why. Where the law requires it, you will be asked for consent before personalised ads are shown, and you can change that choice in the app.
On Android you can reset or delete your advertising ID at any time in Settings → Privacy → Ads (or Settings → Google → Ads on some phones).
4. This website
tools.homilabs.org uses no cookies, analytics or trackers. Like any website, our hosting provider may keep standard server logs (such as IP address, browser type and the pages requested) for security and to keep the site running. We do not use these logs to identify visitors.
5. Children
The tools are not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us information, contact us and we will delete it.
6. Your rights
Because the tools do not collect personal information unless their section says otherwise, there is usually nothing for us to access, correct or delete. Where a tool does involve a third party (such as an ad provider), its section explains how to exercise your choices. You can always contact us with any privacy question or request, and we will reply within 30 days.
7. Changes
We update this policy when a tool changes what it uses, before that version is released. The "last updated" date above and the date in each app's section show when they last changed.
Beam: Torch, Strobe & SOS
Beam itself collects no personal data. It has no account and no analytics. From version 1.1.0 Beam is free and supported by ads from Google AdMob, which collects some device data to show and measure ads, as described below.
| What Beam uses | Why | Leaves your phone? |
|---|---|---|
| Camera flash | To switch the torch on and off and play signals. Beam never opens the camera, never takes photos or video, and does not request the camera permission. | No |
| Screen brightness (Beam's own window) | To make the screen light brighter or dimmer while it is showing. Your system brightness setting is not changed. | No |
| Keep screen awake | So the screen light does not switch off while you are using it. | No |
| Saved settings (colour, brightness, strobe speed, Morse message, whether you have seen the flashing-light warning, and when an ad-free period ends) | So they are ready next time. Deleted when you uninstall Beam. | No |
| Advertising (Google AdMob) | To show banner, full-screen and optional rewarded ads. Google may collect the device's advertising ID, IP address (used for approximate location), device and app information, ad interactions and diagnostics, to serve, personalise (where you allow it) and measure ads and to prevent fraud. | Yes, to Google |
Permissions
Beam requests no camera, location, contacts, storage or microphone permission. The ad SDK adds the standard permissions it needs: internet and network state (to fetch ads) and the advertising ID.
Your choices
- If you are in the European Economic Area, the UK or Switzerland, Beam asks for your consent before any personalised ads, using Google's consent form. You can change your choice at any time in Beam under About → Ad privacy choices.
- You can reset or delete your advertising ID in your phone's settings (see section 3 above).
- Ads appear only on the Signal and Screen tabs and after you finish a signal or the screen light, never while a light is on. Watching one optional rewarded ad turns all ads off for 24 hours.
Google's use of this data is covered by its own policy: How Google uses information from sites or apps that use its services.
System Pulse: Net Speed Test
System Pulse measures your internet connection and works out whether a slowdown is caused by your Wi-Fi or by your internet provider. It has no account and no sign-up. It shows ads and can use your approximate location; both are explained below.
| What System Pulse uses | Why | Leaves your phone? |
|---|---|---|
| Speed test results (download and upload speed, ping, jitter, loaded latency, quality scores) | To show your results and keep a history in the app. | Stored on your phone. May be sent, anonymised, to our coverage database (see below). |
| Approximate location (optional) | To tag each test with the area it was run in, so the coverage map can show speeds by area. You can deny the permission and the app still works; tests are then saved without a location. | Only after rounding to roughly a 500 m grid. Your exact position is never stored or sent. |
| Public IP address and internet provider name (looked up through ipwho.is) | To show which provider the test was run on. | The provider name may be sent, anonymised, to our coverage database. The IP address is removed first. |
| Wi-Fi details (network name, router address, signal strength, link speed) | To work out whether your Wi-Fi is the bottleneck. | No. The network name and router address are removed before anything is sent. |
| Advertising ID and ad-related device data | To show ads through Google AdMob, which keep the app free. | Yes, to Google. See Advertising below. |
Coverage map
To build a map of connection quality by area, the app may upload anonymised test results (speed, latency, provider name and the rounded ~500 m location) to a database run by HomiLabs on Google Firebase. Uploaded results contain no IP address, Wi-Fi network name, router address or any identifier linked to you or your device, so they cannot be traced back to you and cannot be individually deleted.
Permissions
- Internet / network state / Wi-Fi state – to run the test and read Wi-Fi signal details.
- Location (approximate and precise, optional) – only to tag tests with a rounded location. The app asks on first launch; you can deny it or revoke it later in Android settings.
Services the app connects to
- Cloudflare (speed.cloudflare.com, 1.1.1.1) – sends and receives test data to measure speed and latency. Cloudflare sees your IP address, as any website would. Cloudflare privacy policy
- ipwho.is – returns your provider's name from your IP address. ipwho.is privacy policy
- Google Firebase – hosts the anonymised coverage database. Firebase privacy
Advertising
System Pulse shows ads through Google AdMob. Google may collect the device's advertising ID, approximate location derived from the IP address, and how you interact with ads, and may use these to personalise ads. See how Google uses data from apps that use its services. You can reset or delete your advertising ID in Settings → Privacy → Ads (or Settings → Google → Ads).
Deleting your data
Your test history is stored only on your phone and is deleted when you uninstall the app.
Business Calculator
Business Calculator itself collects no personal data. It has no account and no analytics, and your calculations never leave your phone unless you share them. From version 1.1.0 the app is free and supported by ads from Google AdMob, which collects some device data to show and measure ads, as described below.
| What Business Calculator uses | Why | Leaves your phone? |
|---|---|---|
| Your calculations (the tape), memory and grand total | So your work is still there when you come back. Kept only in the app's private storage. You can delete entries or clear the tape at any time; everything is deleted when you uninstall the app. | No |
| Saved settings (decimal places, tax rate, thousands separator, vibration and click sound) | So they are ready next time. | No |
| Share and copy | Only when you tap Share or Copy, the tape is handed to the app you choose (or the clipboard) as plain text. Business Calculator never sends it anywhere by itself. | Only if you share it |
| Vibration on key press | A light tap you can switch off in Settings. Uses Android's standard key feedback, no permission needed. | No |
| Advertising (Google AdMob) | To show a banner under the keypad and, at most every few minutes, a full-screen ad when you close the tape. Google may collect the device's advertising ID, IP address (used for approximate location), device and app information, ad interactions and diagnostics, to serve, personalise (where you allow it) and measure ads and to prevent fraud. Your calculations are never shared with Google. | Yes, to Google |
Permissions
Business Calculator requests no camera, location, contacts, storage or microphone permission. The ad SDK adds the standard permissions it needs: internet and network state (to fetch ads) and the advertising ID. The calculator itself works fully offline.
Your choices
- If you are in the European Economic Area, the UK or Switzerland, the app asks for your consent before any personalised ads, using Google's consent form. You can change your choice at any time under Settings → Ad privacy options.
- You can reset or delete your advertising ID in your phone's settings (see section 3 above).
- Ads never cover the keys while you calculate; full-screen ads appear only after you leave the tape.
Google's use of this data is covered by its own policy: How Google uses information from sites or apps that use its services.
Lingo15: Chinese & German
Lingo15 works without an account and keeps your progress on your phone. Signing in with Google is optional and stores a backup of your progress under your account so you can use it on other devices. It shows ads through Google AdMob, limited to family-suitable (General Audiences) ad content. It has no analytics. The full policy is at tools.homilabs.org/lingo15/privacy-policy.
| What Lingo15 uses | Why | Leaves your phone? |
|---|---|---|
| Your progress (lessons done, review schedule, streak, daily study time, settings) | So your learning continues next time. Kept in the app's private storage and deleted when you uninstall the app or clear its data. | No |
| Optional account (Google sign-in) and cloud backup | Only if you sign in: your Google account identifier, email address and display name (Firebase Authentication) and a backup of your progress (Cloud Firestore) so you can continue on other devices. You can delete both in the app or by email. | Yes, only if you sign in |
| Microphone (optional) | For speaking practice. Your speech is converted to text by the speech recognition service of your Android device (usually Google's). Lingo15 does not record or store audio and does not receive the audio itself. You can use the app without it. | Handled by your device's speech service |
| Text-to-speech | To read words and sentences aloud using the voices installed on your phone. | No (by Lingo15) |
| Vibration | Optional light vibration on answers, which you can switch off in Settings. | No |
Permissions
- Microphone – only for speaking practice. Asked when you first use it; you can deny it or revoke it in Android settings.
- Internet / network state – used by the ads, the consent form, sign-in and backup.
- Advertising ID – used by Google AdMob (see below).
Advertising
Lingo15 shows banner, interstitial and optional rewarded ads through Google AdMob. We ask Google to show only ad content rated suitable for all audiences, including families. Google may collect the device's advertising ID, approximate location derived from the IP address, and how you interact with ads, and may use these to personalise ads. In the European Economic Area, the UK and Switzerland, and where else required, you are asked for consent first, and you can change your choice in the app's Settings. See how Google uses data from apps that use its services. You can reset or delete your advertising ID in Settings → Privacy → Ads (or Settings → Google → Ads).
Children
Lingo15 is intended for people aged 13 and over. Younger learners should use it together with a parent or guardian.
Deleting your data
Progress on your phone is deleted when you clear the app's storage or uninstall it. If you signed in, delete your account and cloud data in Settings → Backup and sync, or see how to request deletion.
Geetar: learn guitar
Geetar has no accounts and no sign-in. It asks only for a first name or nickname, which stays on your device. The web version has no ads and collects nothing. The Android app is free and shows ads through Google AdMob, limited to family-suitable (General Audiences) ad content. Neither version has analytics.
| What Geetar uses | Why | Leaves your device? |
|---|---|---|
| Your name or nickname, and your progress (lessons done, checklist ticks, chord-change scores, practice minutes, settings) | So the app can greet you and you can continue next time. Stored only on your device (browser storage, or the app's private storage on Android). Removed with Reset all progress in the app, by clearing the app's or site's data, or by uninstalling the app. | No |
| Microphone (optional) | Only for the tuner and Play along. The sound is analysed on your device to find the note you played. It is never recorded, stored or sent anywhere. Everything else works without it. | No |
| Ads (Android app only) | Google AdMob shows a banner on menu screens and, at most once every two finished lessons, a full-screen ad. See Advertising below. | Yes, to Google |
| Font | The Nunito font is loaded from Google Fonts. Like any web request, this shares your IP address with Google. | Font request only |
Permissions (Android)
- Microphone – asked only when you press Start in the tuner or Play along. You can deny it or revoke it in Android settings.
- Internet / network state – used by the ads, the consent form and the font.
- Advertising ID – used by Google AdMob (see below).
Advertising
The Android app shows banner and interstitial ads through Google AdMob. Ads never appear on the tuner, inside a lesson or while a song plays. We ask Google to show only ad content rated suitable for all audiences. Google may collect the device's advertising ID, approximate location derived from the IP address, and how you interact with ads, and may use these to personalise ads. In the European Economic Area, the UK and Switzerland, and where else required, you are asked for consent first, and you can change your choice in the app (About → Ad privacy choices). See how Google uses data from apps that use its services. You can reset or delete your advertising ID in your phone's Settings → Privacy → Ads (or Settings → Google → Ads).
Children
Geetar is suitable for learners of all ages and collects no personal information itself. The Android app is intended for ages 13 and over because it shows ads; younger learners should use it with a parent or guardian, or use the ad-free web version.
ScanLink: QR & Barcode Scanner
ScanLink itself collects no personal data. It has no account, no login and no analytics, and it never sends the codes you scan to HomiLabs. It is free and supported by ads from Google AdMob, which collects some device data to show and measure ads, as described below.
| What ScanLink uses | Why | Leaves your phone? |
|---|---|---|
| Camera | To read QR codes and barcodes. The picture is analysed on your phone, frame by frame; ScanLink never saves photos or video. | No |
| A picture you choose from your gallery | To read a code in it. ScanLink only sees the one picture you pick (through Android's photo picker) and does not keep a copy. | No |
| Scan history (the codes you scanned and when) | So you can find a scan again. Stored only on your phone; you can delete single scans, clear it, or switch history off in Settings. Deleted when you uninstall ScanLink. | No |
| Saved settings (open links automatically, vibrate, keep history, when an ad-free period ends) | So they are ready next time. | No |
| Opening a scanned code | Only when you tap Open (or switch on "Open links automatically"), ScanLink passes the link, phone number, email or location to the app that handles it, such as your browser. That app and the website you visit have their own privacy policies. | Only to the app or website you open |
| Advertising (Google AdMob) | To show banner, full-screen and optional rewarded ads. Google may collect the device's advertising ID, IP address (used for approximate location), device and app information, ad interactions and diagnostics, to serve, personalise (where you allow it) and measure ads and to prevent fraud. | Yes, to Google |
Permissions
ScanLink asks for the camera permission only. It does not request location, contacts, storage or microphone access. The ad SDK adds the standard permissions it needs: internet and network state (to fetch ads) and the advertising ID.
Your choices
- If you are in the European Economic Area, the UK or Switzerland, ScanLink asks for your consent before any personalised ads, using Google's consent form. You can change your choice at any time in ScanLink under Settings → Ad privacy choices.
- You can reset or delete your advertising ID in your phone's settings (see section 3 above).
- Ads never cover the camera view or a scan result. A full-screen ad may appear after you close a result, at most once every few scans. Watching one optional rewarded ad turns all ads off for 24 hours.
Google's use of this data is covered by its own policy: How Google uses information from sites or apps that use its services.
Contact
HomiLabs · homilabs.smc@gmail.com