Sumthing Privacy Policy · Iterative Key LLC

This Privacy Policy explains how Iterative Key LLC (“we,” “us,” or “our”) handles information in Sumthing (the “app”), our brain games app for Android, iPhone, and iPad. It applies to the app only. Our website is covered by the separate website privacy policy.

Sumthing is designed to work on your device. It does not require an account, does not connect to any server operated by us, and has no ads, analytics, or crash reporting. Signing in to Google Play Games on Android, or Game Center on iPhone and iPad, to back your progress up and continue it on another device, is optional.

Information stored on your device

To do its job, the app stores the following on your device:

Game progress: the games you play, your results and best scores, your daily practice, your streak, and the calendar of days you practiced.
Memory journal: the answers you write by hand in the memory journal, and the dates the app asks you about them again. Because you choose what to write, these may include personal details about your day.
App settings: your reminder time, sound, vibration, theme, answer method (handwriting or keypad), the first day of your week, and which introductions and tutorials you have already seen.

This information is kept in the app’s private storage, which other apps cannot read. It is never sent to us, and we have no way to see it. Answers you write while playing are read and then discarded; only memory journal entries are kept.

Backup and moving to a new device

If Android backup is turned on for your phone, Android can include the app’s data in your device backup, and can copy it when you transfer your data to a new phone. This lets your progress and journal come back after you set up a new phone or reinstall the app.

This backup is made and stored by Android in your own Google account, under your control. It is not sent to us, and we cannot access it. On Android 9 and later, when your phone has a screen lock, Android encrypts the backup with your PIN, pattern, or password.

You can turn backup off, or delete existing backups, in your phone’s Settings (usually under Google, then Backup) or in your Google account. Google’s handling of backups is described in the Google Privacy Policy.

On iPhone and iPad, the app’s data is included when you back your device up with iCloud Backup, or to a computer, and comes back when you restore that backup. This backup is made by iOS and stored in your own iCloud account or on your computer, under your control. It is not sent to us, and we cannot access it. You can manage iCloud Backup in your device’s Settings, under your name, then iCloud. Apple’s handling of backups is described in the Apple Privacy Policy.

Google Play Games

On Android, the app can back your progress up with Google Play Games Saved Games. Play Games may sign you in on its own when you open the app if you already use it with your Google account; otherwise you can sign in from the app’s Settings. You do not have to sign in to play.

While you are signed in, the app saves a copy of your game progress in your Google account: the games you finished with their dates, results, and times, the days you completed the daily practice, and today’s daily practice. It does not include your memory journal or your settings. The copy is used only to restore your progress and to keep it the same on your devices. It is stored by Google, under your control; it is not sent to us, and we cannot access it.

Signing in shares your Play Games profile (your player name and avatar) with the app, which does not store or use them. Google handles Play Games data as described in the Google Privacy Policy and the Google Play Games Services terms.

You can delete the saved copy at any time in the Google Play Games settings (delete your Play Games data for Sumthing), or by deleting your Play Games profile.

Game Center

On iPhone and iPad, the app can back your progress up with Game Center saved games. If you are already signed in to Game Center on your device, Game Center may sign you in on its own when you open the app; otherwise you can sign in from the app’s Settings. You do not have to sign in to play.

While you are signed in, the app saves the same copy of your game progress described above for Google Play Games, and again not your memory journal or your settings. Game Center keeps saved games in your iCloud account, so iCloud Drive needs to be on. The copy is used only to restore your progress and to keep it the same on your devices. It is stored by Apple, under your control; it is not sent to us, and we cannot access it.

Signing in shares your Game Center profile (your nickname and player identifiers) with the app, which does not store or use them. Apple handles Game Center data as described in the Apple Privacy Policy.

You can delete the saved copy in your iCloud storage settings (in your device’s Settings, under your name, then iCloud).

Handwriting recognition

To read the numbers and words you write, the app uses Google’s ML Kit Digital Ink Recognition. The recognition itself runs on your device: your handwriting is not sent to us or to Google.

The first time you write an answer, the app downloads a handwriting model for your language from Google’s servers. Apart from Google Play Games and Game Center, described above, this is the app’s only use of the internet. As with any internet connection, the download reveals your device’s IP address to Google. ML Kit may also send Google technical information about how the feature performs, such as the device model, the system version, and whether recognition succeeded, which Google uses to maintain and improve ML Kit. This information does not include your handwriting or anything you write. You can read more in ML Kit’s terms and privacy information and the Google Privacy Policy.

If you prefer, you can answer with the on-screen keypad instead, in the app’s Settings.

Permissions the app uses

On Android:

Notifications: to send the daily practice reminder at the time you choose. You can turn the reminder off in the app, or deny the permission.
Run at startup: to schedule your reminder again after the phone restarts.
Internet and network state: used to download the handwriting model and, if you sign in, to sync with Google Play Games, as described above.
Wake lock and foreground service: requested by WorkManager, Android’s library for background work such as the handwriting model download.

On iPhone and iPad, the app asks only for permission to send notifications, for the daily practice reminder. It uses the internet for the handwriting model and Game Center, as described above.

The app does not access your location, contacts, camera, microphone, photos, files, or other accounts.

How we use information

We do not collect information from the app. The data described above stays on your device, and in your Google or iCloud account if you sign in to Google Play Games or Game Center, and is used only to run the games, keep your progress, and remind you to practice.

We do not sell, rent, or trade your information, and we do not share it for advertising. We receive no data from the app. The only third parties the app contacts are Google, to download the handwriting model and to sync your progress with Google Play Games if you sign in, and Apple, to sync your progress with Game Center if you sign in, as described above. If Iterative Key LLC is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, this policy will continue to apply.

Security

Information on your device is protected by the system’s app sandbox and your device’s storage encryption. The handwriting model is downloaded over an encrypted connection.

Your choices and rights

You can turn the daily reminder off, or switch from handwriting to the keypad, at any time in the app.
You can delete everything the app has stored on your device by uninstalling the app, or on Android by clearing the app’s storage in your phone’s Settings. A copy may remain in your Android or iCloud backup until you delete it or the backup is replaced.
You can delete the copy kept by Google Play Games or Game Center, as described above.

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, or delete your personal information. Because we do not collect any, everything the app knows about you is on your device, or in your Google or iCloud account if you use Google Play Games or Game Center, and in your control. If you have a question or a request, please contact us.

Children’s privacy

The app is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. The app collects no personal information from anyone. If you have a concern, please contact us.

Changes to this policy

If we change how the app handles information, we will update this policy on this page and change the effective date above. If the changes are significant, we will also let you know in the app or in its store listing.

Contact

Questions about this policy? Email us at [email protected].