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In a way, Azure was the star of Build 2011 and folks here in Anaheim didn't even really know it. Whatever form the Metro apps delivery system takes in the final shipping version of Windows 8 (with a likely timeframe now of Q1 2013), its most impressive and maybe the most important aspect is the inclusion of apps that learn what functions they can provide to the user from the cloud in real-time, and then manage those functions locally on the user's behalf. Put more simply: adaptive apps.

Depending on where you are in the world and what profession you are in, Windows Live Messenger is either a professional tool you use every day to keep up with your colleagues or something only teenagers would use. Starting today, Messenger - which Microsoft is already positioning as a social networking client - will become more appealing to professionals, as Microsoft is introducing a deep integration with LinkedIn in the U.S. Thanks to this integration, Messenger users will not just be able to send status updates to LinkedIn and view your colleagues updates, but your Messenger and Hotmail contacts will also be kept in sync across the Windows Live and LinkedIn platforms.

Microsoft just announced a major update to its Windows Live Essentials tools for the Windows desktop. The updated applications include the Windows Photo Gallery, Movie Maker, Mail and Live Writer. In addition, Microsoft also released a new synchronization client based on the company's experience with Live Mesh, and will allow PC and Mac users to keep their documents, pictures and music in sync across multiple computers. While there are a lot of feature updates to these apps (and the Ribbon now features prominently in these apps), the big story here is that these apps are now more intimately connected to the cloud.

MySpace and Microsoft just announced that Windows Live users can now start broadcasting their MySpace activity stream on Windows Live. MySpace users can now import status updates, blog entries, photo uploads, and music into Windows Live. MySpace and Microsoft built this MySpaceID implementation on the activitystrea.ms standard, which has also been adopted by Facebook and Opera.

Microsoft's new search engine Bing unexpectedly went live tonight, including a re-direct from http://www.live.com - previously Microsoft's 'personalized start page' destination. So search has usurped a Netvibes-like start page as Microsoft's default homepage for its web services.

In last week's launch announcement, Bing was being bandied about as Microsoft's latest attempt to steal market share away from Google. In particular, according to Microsoft, Bing will focus on four verticals: making a purchase decision, planning a trip, researching a health condition, and finding a local business. We took the new search engine for a test run tonight.

Windows Live received a major makeover last November, and part of this makeover included the ability to aggregate updates from third-party services like Flickr, Pandora, or Twitter. Today, Microsoft announced that its users will now also be able to import their updates from 20 additional partners, including Digg, Last.fm, SmugMug, and Facebook. In addition, users will soon be able to invite their friends on MySpace, Hi5, and Tagged to join their Windows Live network. In Europe, Microsoft Live has also teamed up with a number of popular local services like Hyves, Dailymotion.com, and Dada.

It's time for our weekly summary of Web Technology news, products and trends. On the trends side, we analyzed the significance of MySpace's new profiles, looked at how Google is tracking flu trends, explored a partnership between an online finance tool and a newspaper, and more. On the product side, we brought you an exclusive first look at a new IBM browser technology, reported on the latest big release of Windows Live, checked out a major update for Gmail, and more. We also have highlights from the Enterprise Channel and our new product, Jobwire. Finally, we have the recording from this week's RWW Live about online job tools.