For those who haven’t, I thoroughly recommend getting hold of a copy of October’s issue (featuring a foiled cover from Celloglas), in which Anderson, editor in chief of the US edition of the magazine, looks at how our browsing habits have changed since the online world first became an everyday part of our lives and how these changes are in turn shaping the future development of the internet.

The rise of smartphones and tablet computers, and the proliferation of apps for these new mobile platforms has enabled content generators to do something hitherto almost unheard of online: charge for information.

It is no secret that apps, sold via the iTunes App Store and used by millions around the world, are big business, and in this week’s Gadget Special, we look at how both printers and their suppliers are getting in on the act, including workflow and MIS apps designed to allow print company owners to monitor the progress of jobs going through their business, and e-commerce apps such as Minotaur Group’s Picflicks, which converts iPhone photos into a 16pp A6 colour photobook and has already reached sales in excess of 30,000 on the iTunes App Store.

Granted, the development costs for such specialised tools are not insignificant and your local high-street copy shop is unlikely to launch the next multimillion-pound turnover app.

However, the early adopters of this new means of connecting with clients will doubtless go on to reap the rewards. As Anderson argues, the average internet user is – in the iPhone age – no longer prepared to spend hours disseminating information via a web browser.

On the flip side, the growth of the apps market suggest that consumers are more willing than ever before to pay for products that will facilitate their online experience.

So, whether you’re a printer looking for new ways to attract customers to your services, or a manufacturer developing the tools to allow your customers to have 24/7 visibility of their businesses, you can’t afford to ignore the app revolution.