I’m an app addict! My Ultrabook is full of them, and here’s why: They make my life easier and they look great while doing it. With Ultrabook technology moving into new functionality, like touch and sensors, I wonder what the next generation of apps will look like.

The only problem is that when it comes to technology, I’m not a patient person–I want to know what the next generation of apps looks like now. I’m getting a sneak peek by following the Ultimate Coder Challenge from Intel. Intel has challenged six developers to compete for six weeks to create apps that take advantage of all of the awesome functionalities of the Ultrabook, including the gorgeous graphics and the touch capabilities.

The developers can build a new app or port an existing app, but they must make full use of the Ultrabook. The judges are used to seeing the next big thing before the rest of us. They include Steve “Chippy” Paine and Helena Stone, one of the most influential female voices on the Web. So cool!

The contestants are documenting their process on their own blogs. Their posts are a great view into the minds of the developers. Over at the Soma Games blog, John writes about traveling with his Ultrabook:

“Many in the group had brought laptops, but they all ran out of battery before they could watch a film or get the chance to work. They also loved how light and quick it fired up since we were often only around WiFi for brief periods of time. And in regards to the video work, it satisfied every need from rendering time to editing the timeline.”

So what are the contestants working on? You’ll need to head over to Ultimate Coder Challenge to find out. As for me, I’m betting we’ll see some 3D apps and some very cool new uses for touch capabilities.

What do you think the next generation of apps will look like? What do you think the winning app will do?