Who we are and what this covers
Podex is developed and operated by Yubo Hu. This policy covers the Podex iOS app and the websites at podex.app and podex.huyubo.cn. For privacy questions or requests, email [email protected].
Podex does not require a separate Podex account. Apple accounts, iCloud, Apple Health and App Store purchases are provided by Apple and are also governed by Apple’s terms and privacy information.
Your collection and local preferences
Podex stores capsule collection membership, favorites, inventory, emoji ratings, personal notes and brew logs on your device. Brew logs can contain the capsule, cup type, date, caffeine amount, creation date and whether the record was written to Apple Health. This information supports your collection, history, stock management and in-app summaries.
The app also stores preferences such as data language, capsule type, layout, recent searches, haptics and completion of welcome or update screens. Searches run against the downloaded catalog. Search terms, notes, collections and brew logs are not sent to the capsule catalog API.
iCloud sync
Podex uses Apple CloudKit to sync collection and brew-log records when iCloud is available and access is enabled. This includes favorites, inventory, ratings, notes, capsule and cup identifiers, dates, caffeine amounts and the Health-write status. The app’s sync configuration is enabled by default; actual availability also depends on your Apple account and device settings.
Manage Podex’s iCloud access in your device’s iCloud settings. Turning off access does not by itself delete records already on your device, other devices, iCloud or backups. Information already synced may reappear when access is restored. Podex settings show sync status and may offer to restore a previously disabled app configuration; the current app does not offer a general on/off sync switch.
These records are not uploaded to the developer’s catalog server. Apple processes iCloud data under its own service and security arrangements. Syncing changes or deletions can take time and requires the relevant devices to connect.
Apple Health
The Apple Health connection is optional. With your system permission and the app’s Health setting enabled, saving a brew can write its water amount, caffeine amount and date to Apple Health. Caffeine can come from official catalog data, an algorithmic estimate or a value you enter. These figures are for personal reference and are not medical advice.
Podex requests write access to Dietary Water and Dietary Caffeine only. It requests no Health read access and does not import records from Apple Health. Other Podex features remain available if you decline Health access.
You can stop future writes in Podex settings or revoke permission in Apple’s Health controls. Previously written samples remain until you manage or delete them in Apple Health; deleting a Podex brew log does not automatically delete its Health samples. Separately, Podex’s own brew records can sync through CloudKit as described above. Health-related content is not used for advertising, marketing or profiling.
Catalog downloads, images and service logs
To check for updates, download capsule information and load or cache images, Podex connects to api.podex.app and img.podex.app. Catalog requests include the chosen data language, pagination and update filters; image requests identify the requested image. Downloaded catalog information and cached images can support offline use.
Serving network requests exposes technical information to the relevant infrastructure, such as IP address, request time, requested path, response status and standard request headers. The exact fields recorded depend on the service configuration. This information is used to deliver content, investigate failures and protect service availability; it is not a copy of your private collection or brew history.
The catalog API is hosted on Alibaba Cloud servers in the United States. Image storage uses Cloudflare R2. The website is hosted on Alibaba Cloud. Provider infrastructure and network processing may operate in multiple regions; a Chinese-language domain does not mean all processing takes place in mainland China.
Purchases, subscriptions and support purchases
Apple processes purchases, subscriptions, billing, refunds and restoration through the App Store and StoreKit. Podex uses Apple-verified product and transaction information, entitlement status, expiry, revocation and original app acquisition details to determine Plus benefits and eligibility for legacy-user access.
Storefront country or region helps choose the appropriate policy links and product presentation. Where one-off support purchases are available, their transaction identifier and date can be stored locally to show the support history and avoid counting a transaction twice. Podex does not receive your payment-card number, Apple Account password or full payment-account details.
Manage subscriptions and refund requests through Apple. Removing Podex or clearing its cache does not cancel a subscription or erase Apple’s transaction records.
Support, website storage and external links
If you contact [email protected], we receive your email address, message and any attachments you choose to send. We use them to answer your request, investigate the issue and handle privacy requests. The support mailbox uses Apple’s email service. Please share only information needed for your request and avoid unnecessary health information or account credentials.
The website stores your selected display language in browser local storage under podex-site-language. This is a functional preference and can be removed by clearing site data in your browser. The privacy pages offer direct English and Simplified Chinese links and remain readable without JavaScript.
The current app and website do not include PostHog or another third-party behavioral analytics SDK, advertising SDK, session recording or advertising-tracking cookies. We do not use your collection, notes or Health-related content for advertising. Opening external links or posting an App Store review is subject to the destination’s own privacy practices.
Sharing and international processing
Information is handled by providers needed to deliver the features you use: Apple for iCloud, Health, App Store services and support email; Alibaba Cloud for the catalog API and website; and Cloudflare for image storage and related configured delivery services. Their roles differ: some provide infrastructure for Podex, while Apple also provides services directly under your own Apple account.
We do not sell your personal information or share your private coffee records for targeted advertising. Information may also be disclosed where required by applicable law, to respond to a valid legal request, or where reasonably necessary to protect users and service security.
Depending on your location and the providers’ infrastructure, requests and information may be processed outside your country or region, including the United States for the catalog API. Where applicable law requires additional notice, consent or transfer safeguards, those requirements apply; this policy does not replace a required separate authorization.
Retention
Local collection records, preferences and brew logs remain until you edit or remove the relevant information or app data. Catalog files and image caches may be retained for offline use until cleared, replaced or removed by the app or operating system. Local records may also be included in device backups according to your settings.
iCloud records, backups, Apple Health samples and Apple purchase records have separate retention and deletion controls provided by Apple. Deleting a local copy does not necessarily delete these other copies.
Service access logs and support email currently have no uniform automatic expiry configured by the developer. They may remain in the relevant service until manually deleted or removed under the provider’s applicable settings. They are used for service operation, security and handling requests. You can contact us about access or deletion of information held by us. Any retention needed for legal obligations, unresolved disputes or security investigations is considered separately.
Your choices and deletion requests
In Podex, you can edit notes and ratings, change favorites and stock, remove collection membership, delete brew logs, manage recent searches and clear downloaded image caches. Removing a capsule from the collection clears its stock, rating and note, but can retain its favorite status and does not delete its brew history. Clear those separately if needed.
For broader removal, manage app data and backups on your device, Podex’s data in iCloud, and samples in Apple Health separately. Clearing image caches does not delete personal records. Disabling sync does not erase existing cloud data. Uninstalling the app does not cancel subscriptions.
For support messages or service information held by the developer, email [email protected] with the request and enough context to locate the relevant information. Depending on applicable law, you may request access, correction, deletion, restriction, objection, portability or withdrawal of consent, and may complain to a competent authority. We may ask for proportionate verification and explain when we cannot fulfill a request. We cannot operate or delete your Apple account or Apple-controlled records for you.
Security and children
Podex uses system storage and HTTPS for its catalog, image and website connections. Access to data held by Apple or other providers is also subject to their security controls. No transmission or storage method can guarantee absolute security. Protect your device, Apple account and mailbox, and avoid including sensitive information unnecessarily in personal notes or support messages.
Podex is not directed at children. We do not knowingly collect children’s personal information through support without any authorization required by applicable law. If you believe a child has provided such information, contact us so we can assess and handle its removal.
Changes and contact
We update this policy when features or data handling change and show the revised date above. For material changes, we provide additional notice or seek authorization where required. English and Simplified Chinese describe the same practices; please tell us about a translation discrepancy.
Privacy contact: Yubo Hu, [email protected]. Please use “Podex Privacy Request” in the email subject to help identify your request.