IMDB tunes up its mobile app for TV and movie buffs

Those of us who are fans of IMDB's mobile app will find a few healthy enhancements in the latest version.

Designed for both Apple's iOS and Android, the newest flavor of the IMDB (Internet Movie Database) app is easier to navigate in key ways and taps more heavily into the world of social media.

You can more quickly jump from one season to another of any TV series simply by clicking on the season number. You can also hop from one episode to another by clicking on forward and backward buttons. Holding down the back button now shows you a history of all the pages you've viewed, so you can easily travel back in time to see past content.

You can build a watchlist of your favorite TV shows and movies simply by tapping on a plus button, which appears on the item's poster. A "More like this" section displays shows and movies similar to the one you're currently checking out. You can also view additional details, including soundtracks and filming locations.

Social media types can share their favorite content directly from the app on Facebook and Twitter. And there's now direct access to IMDB's message boards where you can talk TV and movies with your fellow users.

"Given that IMDB.com's message boards generate more than 2.5 billion page views annually, it's no surprise that mobile-optimized message boards were our #1 customer request," IMDB founder and CEO Col Needham said in a statement. "Beginning today, more than 40 million movie, TV, and celebrity fans -- and counting -- will enjoy mobile message boards, check-ins, similarities, and more when using IMDB's apps for iPhone, iPad and Android devices."

As a big old-time movie buff and fan of certain cult TV classics, I fire up the IMDB mobile app almost every day. And both the interface and social media enhancements combine to make a good app even better.