The past few years has seen a revolution in the way we're using technology... and it seems to have very little to do with the hardware. Over the past few years, we've seen the evolution of the 'app' take the computer and mobile telecommunications world by storm.

Let's face it, how many people have wanted an iPhone simply because of the vast range of Apps that could be downloaded? If you're a sucker for clever marketing, and many in our world are, then I bet you've at least been tempted if you haven't already raced out to grab your latest Apple item.

2010 is already shaping up to be another milestone year in the world of virtual technology. Apple are leading the way with the upcoming release of the iPad, a table device that will blur the borders between laptop computers and the iPhone. Already, Australian publishers are quickly developing new Apps and strategies to stay in the market with the old fashioned hand held versions (better known as a 'book') quickly becoming the latest item to collect dust in the corner. In the US, e-books now constitute between 5-6% of all book sales although one only needs to compare the sales figures of digital music in it's first few years to realise that this figure could change very quickly. With items like the Kindle and iPad revolutionising the way people want to read, it will only be a matter of time before companies without a digital strategy will fade away from lack of interest.

But it's not just going to be novels that are getting a digital make over. Magazines are set to become far more interactive, with photographer Alexx Henry recently being involved in shooting the first digital magazine set to premier at the same time as the iPad. The magazine itself will feature photo spreads that include animation and complement the written pieces, giving it still a very 'print' experience while offering motion graphics and animation as a bonus feature.

Google recently got into the App world too with the introduction of Google Apps which has invited to use their "reliable, secure online applications wherever you work", stating that it reduces "IT costs" and "empowers today's employees" by giving them the flexibility of working anywhere. It would seem that the future of technology has little to do with installing bulky, time consuming software onto a hard drive and more to do with uploading useful Apps depending on the need at the time.

Are Apps going to take over the digital world? Do you have an App that you're just obsessed about? Why not share them with us so that we can share them with the world.