This week, WordPress released an updated app for iPhone and iPad featuring several new and useful features.

Dubbed by WordPress as its “biggest update ever,” the interface for both iPhone and iPad have been completely re-imagined, providing new and experienced bloggers with a smoother user experience.

Sliding panels have been implemented, making for faster management and an easier overview of everything within the app — from posts and pages to comments and settings. A new sidebar menu allows for quick navigation, similar to Facebook’s iOS app.

In addition to drafting and publishing posts, you can also better monitor your blog’s performance. WordPress.com Stats have been fully integrated into the app — previously they were available in a limited capacity. Self-hosted bloggers will need to provide their app to gain access to WordPress.com stats.

If you host your blog on WordPress.com, you’ll also have easy access to the other blogs you follow through the Reader feature, which now supports the iPad. Additionally you’ll have the ability to search for friends from Twitter and Facebook who are also blogging on the platform.

One of the iPhone’s most popular features, Quick Photo, is also being brought to the iPad. You can use Quick Photo to effortlessly insert images into you posts by using your iPad’s built-in camera to take a photo or choosing one from the library.

Other improvements include new post previews for iPad, all-around landscape support on the iPhone and iPod Touch, and easy site and dashboard access. You can read about the update in more detail on the WordPress Blog. Although blogging while on the go might not be ideal, WordPress 3.1 features some much-needed updates that should help to improve your overall mobile blogging experience.

[Image credit: Andrew Abogado]