Microsoft clears the air with haze apps

Microsoft has collaborated with Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) and Nokia to bring Windows users two new free apps - Phaze & My Haze - in light of the haze situation.Designed by Alexander Wong and Masoud Haghi, Phaze provides up-to-date air quality index and humorous recommendations on how one should protect himself from the haze. It even provides weather forecast, informing users when to expect the rain and which direction the wind is blowing.My Haze, on the other hand, was developed by student and developer Brian Lai and enables users to check the current air pollution index (API) at a specific location and share the information on social networks.While the API readings are available for Malaysia only, Microsoft is planning to release more features to include other countries."We feel very strongly the need to make this app support more countries, however due to the busy nature of our time, we may only be able to push the necessary updates to Phaze by September or October; and that includes support for more regions," shares Wong, web designer and digital marketing strategist, Info Trek.