Overview
MemScape is a personal journal for iPhone, developed by Steve Trefethen. It stores your entries and photos in files on your iPhone. There are no MemScape accounts, and the developer does not operate a server that receives your journal. Optional features use Apple services to add a place and weather to an entry; those connections are described below.
Data Stored on Your Device
MemScape stores the following data locally:
- Journal entries: The text you write, entry dates and time zones, tags, and starred status.
- Photos: Photos you take or select for an entry, and photos copied from a journal you import. Photos may retain embedded metadata, including the capture date, camera information, and GPS location when supplied with the image. Removing an entry's location does not remove location metadata embedded in its photo.
- Entry context: When available and permitted, your location and place name, weather, activity, daily step count, and the artist, album, and track playing in the Music app. New entries also record the device model, iOS version, app version, and the time the record was generated.
- Imported information: Entries, photos, and metadata from the source folder you select, including information about the import such as the source file name and chosen time zone. Importing copies data into MemScape and does not modify the source folder.
- Settings and derived data: App preferences and cached photo thumbnails. Search and browsing use your journal on the device.
Your journal is available in Files under On My iPhone > MemScape > Journal. Entries are JSON files and photos are JPEG files. Anyone you give copies of these files to may be able to read their contents and metadata.
Data Usage and Permissions
MemScape uses your journal data to display, search, organize, and edit your entries. Optional context capture runs when you create an entry or request capture in the editor. It is not continuous background tracking.
- Location: With your permission while using the app, MemScape obtains your location to attach coordinates and a place name to an entry and request weather for that location.
- Motion and Fitness: With your permission, MemScape reads activity and step information to add your activity and the day's step count to an entry.
- Media and Apple Music: With your permission, MemScape reads the Music app's currently playing track information to attach it to an entry.
- Camera: Used when you choose to take a photo for an entry.
- Selected photos and files: The system photo picker gives MemScape the photo you select, without granting access to your entire photo library. The folder picker gives the importer access to the source folder you choose.
You can decline or revoke optional permissions in iOS Settings and continue writing and reading entries. Revoking a permission stops future access; it does not erase information already saved in your journal.
Internet Connections
MemScape uses the following services. Your journal text and photos are not included in its place-name or weather requests.
- Place names: When location capture obtains coordinates, MemScape sends that location to Apple's MapKit reverse-geocoding service to find a place name or address.
- Weather: After location capture succeeds, MemScape sends the coordinates and requested date or time range to Apple's WeatherKit service to retrieve weather for the entry. The app also requests Apple's weather attribution information and may load Apple's attribution images in Settings.
- Links you open: Tapping a place can open Apple Maps with the entry's coordinates and place name, or search Maps for the place text when coordinates are absent. Opening a link in an entry or a weather attribution link sends you to the relevant app or website, which handles the request under its own policy.
- System photo and file providers: Selecting a photo or import folder stored in iCloud or another provider may cause iOS or that provider to download the files you selected.
Apple handles its services under the Apple Privacy Policy. Other apps, websites, and file providers have their own privacy policies. Like other internet services, they may receive connection information such as your IP address.
What MemScape Does Not Do
- Require an account or upload your journal to servers run by the developer.
- Include advertising, tracking, analytics, or a third-party crash-reporting SDK in the app.
- Sell your journal data or share it for advertising.
- Send your entries or photos to an AI service.
Apple may make app diagnostics available according to your device's analytics and diagnostic-sharing settings. This is separate from analytics built into MemScape.
TestFlight Beta Testing
If you install MemScape through TestFlight, Apple collects beta testing information and shares information with the developer, including crash logs, usage information, your tester name and email address, and feedback you submit. This is part of Apple's TestFlight service, separate from MemScape's local journal storage. See TestFlight & Privacy for details.
Feedback you send may include screenshots and diagnostic information. Review it before sending and avoid including private journal content unless it is needed to explain a problem.
Storage and Backups
MemScape does not provide its own cloud sync or online backup service. Your app data may be included in iCloud Backup or computer backups, depending on your settings. Copies you make through Files may also be stored with a cloud provider you choose. Those copies are controlled by you and the provider, not the developer.
The journal uses ordinary JSON and JPEG files; MemScape does not add a separate journal password or encryption layer. Protect access to your iPhone and any backups or copies you make.
Data Retention
Saved entries and their photos remain on your iPhone until you delete them. Deleting an entry removes its entry file and the photos it references from the journal. Removing or replacing an entry's photo removes the previous photo from the journal. Cached thumbnails are rebuildable and may remain until the cache is cleared by the system or the app is deleted.
Deleting imported entries does not delete the original export or photos in your source folder. Deleting journal data does not remove copies you previously shared or backed up. Data handled by Apple or another outside service is retained according to that service's policy.
Your Control Over Your Data
- Edit or delete entries and remove attached photos in MemScape.
- Use Files to copy your Journal folder for your own backup or transfer.
- Review or revoke MemScape's permissions in iOS Settings.
- Delete the app to remove its local documents, settings, and caches. Offloading the app keeps its documents and data.
- Manage backups and any copies you have made separately. Apple's iCloud storage guidance explains how to manage app backups.
The developer has no server-side copy of your journal to retrieve, change, or delete on your behalf.
Children's Privacy
MemScape is a personal journaling app and is not directed specifically at children. The developer does not collect journal content from users of any age.
Changes to This Policy
This policy may be updated as MemScape changes. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised "Last updated" date.
Contact
For questions about this privacy policy or MemScape, email support@commutedash.com or visit MemScape Support. If you contact the developer, the information you choose to send is used to respond to your request. Please avoid sending private journal content unless it is needed for your support request.