Helios is built by Hellwarp. The short version: everything stays on your device, except the ads in the free version (which Google AdMob handles) and the Pro purchase (which Google Play handles). We don't run any servers, we don't have accounts, we don't track you.
What data Helios collects
None — first-party. Helios itself has no servers, no analytics, no crash reporting, no email list, no accounts. The app cannot identify you because it never sees who you are.
The following data is used locally and never transmitted:
| Data | How it's used | Where it lives |
|---|---|---|
| Your GPS location | Calculating where the sun is in the sky from your position | Device RAM only; written to disk only indirectly as the key for saved scans (3-decimal precision ≈ 110 m radius) |
| Camera frames | Detecting sky vs. obstructions in real time | Device RAM only; discarded after each frame; never recorded |
| Compass, accelerometer, gyroscope | Aligning the AR overlay to where you're pointing | Device RAM only |
| Sky obstruction maps | The "solar report" feature | Device internal storage (obstruction_grids/); never transmitted |
| Site labels & panel orientation choices | UI persistence — your settings stick across launches | Device internal storage (SharedPreferences); never transmitted |
Uninstalling Helios removes all of the above. You can also wipe it manually any time from the About sheet → "Reset all data".
Third-party services
Helios uses three Google services. They have their own privacy policies which apply to the data they collect:
Google Mobile Ads (AdMob) Free tier only
The free tier of Helios displays one banner ad on the Solar Report screen, served by Google AdMob. AdMob may collect:
- Your device's advertising ID (Android Ad ID)
- General app interaction data needed to deliver an ad
Google's privacy practices for this data are described at policies.google.com/technologies/ads. You can reset or limit your advertising ID at any time in your Android device settings (Settings → Privacy → Ads).
Upgrading to Helios Pro removes all ads. Pro Once Pro is unlocked, AdMob is not initialized and makes no network requests.
Google Play Billing Pro purchase only
When you purchase Helios Pro, the transaction goes through Google Play Billing. Google handles payment processing; Helios never sees your payment details. Google's data practices are at policies.google.com.
Google Play Services Location
Helios uses Google's fused location provider to get an accurate GPS fix when you launch the app. The location is delivered locally to Helios — it isn't shared back to Google by us. Google's own use of location is governed by your device's privacy settings.
Permissions Helios requests
- Camera — required for the AR view. We never record or save frames.
- Fine Location — required to compute the sun's path for your spot on Earth.
- Internet + Network State — required by AdMob (free tier) and Google Play Billing (Pro purchase).
- AD_ID — required by AdMob to read your advertising ID. You can reset or limit this in your Android settings.
- BILLING — implicit permission used by Google Play Billing.
Children
Helios is not directed at children under 13. We don't knowingly collect personal information from anyone. If you are under 13, please don't purchase Pro without a parent's involvement.
Changes to this policy
If we make material changes, the "Last updated" date at the top of this page will change and an in-app notification will appear on next launch.
Contact
Helios is a one-developer project. Reach out by email at [email protected].