The new Minecraft: Pocket Edition is now available, boasting a number of improvements and additions to enhance the whole experience.

Minecraft is an immensely successful game on smartphones and tablets, with masses of users worldwide totally hooked. The latest update now takes things to the next level, finally adding boats into the mix, as well as skins, fishing and more.

With skins, users will be able to change how their Minecraft character looks. These skins are only cosmetic, and will not affect the characters' abilities or the game play in any way. Users will be able to choose either free or paid options when it comes to skins, depending on their preferences and possibilities. If they don't want any new skin, that's okay, too — you don't have to change the appearance of your Minecraft character.

To take advantage of free skins, users can go online and use a search engine or check out Minecraft's website to find a skin to upload to Minecraft: Pocket Edition. Alternately, users can also check out Minecraft: Skin Studio and create their own skin using their preferred image-editing software. Simply uploading it to Pocket Edition will do the trick. Lastly, some free skins are also available in the game.

Those willing to pay for skins will however have more options. Bundles of paid skins will allow users to choose from a wide variety. Each bundle will include roughly 20 skins, retailing for 99 cents. Just like on console, free skins will also be included when a pack launches. The first packs are City Folk and Town Folk, designed by Army of Trolls.

In addition to these new skins, the latest update also brings several other improvements and new features. Minecraft: Pocket Edition will now boast multiple language support, boats with enough room for two, the capacity to transport your pet in the boat, the ability to throw things such as snowballs or eggs from boats and the ability to fish. Also in the mix are squids, cave spiders, spider jockeys, baby zombies, bats and more.

Moreover, a new World Edit screen now allows users to rename worlds, as well as change the game modes, among other options. The new update also brings other changes: cheeky chicken can't walk on water, animals can't breed unless they touch each other, and drinking milk will remove mob effects. And no more setting creative players on fire. As expected from an update, "ridiculous amounts" of bug fixes are also included.

The update is now live for iOS, with the Android and Windows Phone versions to follow shortly.