SodaClock Privacy Policy

Effective Date: August 12, 2026

Last Updated: August 12, 2026

SodaClock (the “App”) is a clock and timer utility for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. This Privacy Policy explains how the Developer handles information relating to users when providing the App, the official website, and user support.

Developer and data controller: CE ZHAO

Contact email: oyzgzc@gmail.com

1. Scope

This Privacy Policy applies to the SodaClock App, the official SodaClock website, and support communications that users initiate through contact details provided in the App or on the website.

Apple provides the App Store, StoreKit, the system browser, and other Apple services under its own terms and privacy policy. When a user contacts support, the operating system passes the email request to the mail app selected or configured by the user; that app and its service provider process the relevant information under their own terms and privacy policies. This Policy also describes the necessary involvement of email, website hosting, and network security providers when a user contacts support or visits the official website.

2. No Account or Sign-In Required

The App currently does not require users to create an account, sign in, or provide identity information such as a name, telephone number, or identity document. SodaClock does not provide its own account system or cloud synchronization service.

3. Information Processed on the Device

To provide clocks, timers, interface settings, trial rules, and window restoration, the App reads, generates, or stores certain information locally on the device. This currently includes:

• selected clock styles, color themes, and display settings;
• preferences for the date, seconds, time format, battery display, clock sounds, screen protection, and similar features;
• personal messages and event countdowns entered by the user;
• count-up and countdown information, reminder preferences, recent countdowns, and selected labels;
• onboarding status, free-trial status, and purchase-screen presentation status;
• current time, time zone, language, region, battery level, brightness, device orientation, screen size, and other system information needed for local features; and
• on Mac, window position, size, and display-related information needed to restore windows.

This information is primarily processed on the user’s device through local storage and system APIs provided by Apple. In the current implementation, SodaClock does not send these local preferences or device states to a server operated by the Developer.

Users can affect this local data by changing App settings, clearing the relevant content, or deleting the App. What is removed when the App is deleted also depends on the operating system and the user’s system backup settings.

4. In-App Purchases and Apple Services

SodaClock offers monthly and annual subscriptions and a Lifetime Pro purchase through Apple StoreKit and the App Store. Apple processes product information, prices, purchase eligibility, transactions, payments, subscription status, refunds, and restoration of purchases.

The App receives from StoreKit the product and transaction status needed to offer purchases and determine Pro access. It does not receive a user’s full payment-card number or Apple Account password. Apple’s own terms and privacy policy govern its processing of purchase and store information.

5. Support Emails

Users may choose to contact support from the App. The current contact option asks the operating system to open the mail app selected or configured by the user. The user decides whether to send the message and what email address, text, or attachments to include. SodaClock does not automatically submit email content or device diagnostics unless the user actively sends them.

If a user sends an email, the Developer may receive the user’s email address, message, attachments, and any other information the user chooses to provide. This information is:

• used only to answer inquiries, investigate reported issues, and provide support;
• not used for advertising, marketing, or user profiling;
• retained only for as long as reasonably necessary to resolve the matter and meet applicable legal obligations; and
• deleted or anonymized from mailboxes and records reasonably controlled by the Developer when it is no longer needed.

The support mailbox uses Google Gmail. When a user sends an email, the user’s email provider and Gmail process the information necessary to transmit, screen for spam or security threats, and store the message. Depending on service configuration and Google’s privacy practices, Google may process information outside the user’s country or region. Users should send only information necessary to resolve their issue and may review the Google Privacy Policy. If applicable law requires more specific information about a recipient outside the user’s country or region, separate consent, or other measures for an international transfer, the Developer will implement those measures before launching or continuing this support channel in the relevant region. This paragraph alone does not constitute any separate consent required by law.

Users may request deletion of their support email and the personal information it contains by writing to oyzgzc@gmail.com. The Developer may need to retain a minimal record to verify the request or comply with law, or may ask the user to confirm the request from the original sending address. Copies temporarily retained by an email provider for backup, security, or legal reasons are governed by that provider’s applicable rules and may not be immediately removable by the Developer.

6. Advertising, Tracking, and Analytics

The App currently does not display third-party advertising, use advertising attribution or cross-app or cross-website tracking, or integrate a third-party user-behavior analytics SDK. The Developer does not use the App to build advertising or marketing profiles.

Apple may process App Store sales, downloads, crash information, or diagnostic information under the user’s device settings and Apple’s own terms, and may provide related store or diagnostic reports to the Developer. Apple’s provision of these services does not change the fact that the current App does not upload user-behavior data to a server operated by the Developer.

7. Visits to the Official Website

When a user visits the official SodaClock website, hosting, network transmission, or security providers may process basic network and access logs to deliver the pages, maintain security, and troubleshoot problems. These logs may include an IP address, access time, requested page, browser or device type, and error records.

The official website does not use this information for cross-site tracking, targeted advertising, or user profiling. Basic access logs are processed and retained only as needed to operate the website, protect it, and troubleshoot problems. The production hosting and security providers, cookies, third-party scripts, and log-retention period will be determined by the website’s actual configuration. This Policy will be updated if that configuration materially changes.

The website stores the language a user selects in the browser’s local storage so that the same language can be used on a later visit. This preference remains in the browser, is not sent to a Developer-operated account or business server, and can be removed by clearing the website’s stored data in the browser.

8. System Logs and Diagnostics

The App uses Apple’s system logging facilities for certain purchase and runtime states to support local debugging and troubleshooting. The current implementation does not automatically upload these logs to the Developer’s server.

If a user chooses to submit diagnostic information to Apple or the Developer through the system or by email, its processing will depend on the user’s choice, the information submitted, and the rules of the service used.

9. Sharing and Disclosure

The Developer does not sell or rent users’ personal information and does not use support emails for unrelated purposes. The following providers or recipients may process information to the extent necessary for their respective roles:

• Apple, to provide the App Store, StoreKit, system browser, and related system services;
• the mail app and email provider selected by the user, and Google Gmail, to compose, transmit, screen, secure, and store an email initiated by the user;
• website hosting, network transmission, and security providers, to deliver and protect the official website and troubleshoot problems; and
• public authorities lawfully entitled to receive information when necessary for the Developer to comply with legal obligations, respond to a valid request, or protect lawful rights.

These providers process information under their own terms and privacy practices. For providers selected or reasonably controlled by the Developer, the Developer will use appropriate selection, contractual terms, or service settings to require protection consistent with this Policy and applicable law, and to limit processing to what is necessary for the relevant purpose. Apple, a user-selected mail app, and the associated email provider independently provide their services under their own terms; the Developer does not present conduct beyond the Developer’s control as an absolute guarantee. Except as described above, at a user’s direction, or as otherwise permitted by applicable law, the Developer does not disclose personal information from support emails to unrelated third parties.

10. Security and Retention

The App follows a local-first, data-minimization approach and processes only information needed for its current features. The Developer takes reasonable administrative measures to protect support emails received, but no device, email service, or internet transmission method can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Retention of local data generally depends on the user’s use of the App, changes to settings, deletion of the App, and operating-system backup and restoration mechanisms. Support emails are retained as described in Section 5. Website access logs are retained according to the production hosting configuration and only for as long as needed to operate and secure the website and troubleshoot problems.

11. User Choices and Requests

Users may:

• change relevant features and preferences in the App;
• delete personal messages, event countdowns, recent countdowns, and other content they entered;
• manage or cancel subscriptions through system settings;
• ask StoreKit to recheck eligible purchases through the App’s Restore Purchases option; and
• contact oyzgzc@gmail.com with a privacy question or to request access, correction, or deletion of personal information in support emails or website records that the Developer actually holds and can reasonably locate.

The Developer may ask a user to confirm a request from the original sending address or provide limited information needed to locate the relevant record. Requests will be answered within the period required by applicable law. If a request is limited by a legal obligation, security needs, abuse prevention, the rights of others, or an inability to reasonably locate the information, the Developer will explain the applicable outcome. Because the App currently has no proprietary account system and does not store in-App local preferences on the Developer’s server, the Developer generally cannot identify or remotely delete local data on a user’s device through an email address. Website security or access logs that cannot reliably be linked to a particular user may likewise be impossible to locate using only an email address.

12. Privacy of Minors

SodaClock is a general-audience utility that may be used by minors, but it is not designed specifically for children. The App does not ask users for their age or actively collect age information.

Minors who contact support should provide only information necessary to resolve the issue. In mainland China, a user under the age of 14 should have a parent or other legal guardian send a support request on the user’s behalf. The Developer will process the information only as needed to provide support and will apply the retention and deletion practices described in this Policy. If the Developer learns that personal information was submitted by a user under 14 in mainland China without a guardian’s involvement, the Developer will stop unnecessary processing and delete information that can reasonably be located, as required by applicable law. Mandatory requirements for children’s or minors’ information in other countries or regions will apply locally. A parent or guardian may contact oyzgzc@gmail.com with questions about a support email.

13. Third-Party Links

Relevant versions of the App may open the Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, or Support pages on the official SodaClock website in the system browser. This Policy continues to apply to relevant processing on the official SodaClock website. If the website or App links to another third-party website or service, that third party’s privacy practices apply when the user visits it.

14. Changes to This Policy

The Developer may update this Privacy Policy if the App’s data practices, features, or applicable requirements change, and will show the revised Last Updated date on the public page. If a change materially affects users’ rights or how information is processed, the Developer will provide reasonable notice as required by applicable law and supported by the product.

15. Contact Us

For questions about this Privacy Policy or to request access, correction, or deletion, contact:

• Developer: CE ZHAO
• Email: oyzgzc@gmail.com
• Product: SodaClock