NOOK apps for iOS and Android get updated

Shortly before the expected arrival of the NOOK HD and NOOK HD+, Barnes and Noble has updated its free NOOK reader apps for iOS and Android. Both updates are now live on their respective app stores, and each brings a significant amount of new functionality – comic fans reading on Android will probably love this update, for instance.

That's because with this update, Barnes and Noble has given Android users the ability to zoom in on a single frame when reading a comic or a graphic novel. This new feature, dubbed "Zoom View," is only available on phones with a HVGA+ screen that are running Android 2.2 or later. Other new features in this update include the addition of a full dictionary, improved font and margin sizes, and a few enhancements to the way Barnes and Noble delivers pre-ordered content. Other than all of that, we've got the expected general bug fixes, with Barnes and Noble instructing users to sync their library before updating to version 3.2.

Looking at the iOS side of things, we again have the addition of a full dictionary, and those using an iPhone or an iPad can now use the app to view PDF files and PagePerfect NOOK Book content. Users can also access sideloaded PDF and EPUB files after installing update 3.2, and Barnes and Noble says that it has made a number of "other quality enhancements," though doesn't really delve into specifics.

There you have it, folks – just like that, your reading experience should be at least a little bit better if you're using the NOOK reader app on your mobile device. As stated above, the updates are now live on the Google Play Store [download link] and the iOS App Store [download link]. Go and get 'em, and be sure to check out our story timeline below for more posts on NOOK!