Googlers just can’t help but poke and prod Apple these days. First they did an end-around with the HTML5 version of Google Voice, and now they’ve enabled multi-touch for the Nexus One.

Google yesterday pushed out an over-the-air update to the Nexus One that enables pinch-to-zoom functionality in the phone’s browser, gallery and maps applications. Additional facets of the update include a general fix to help improve 3G connectivity on the device, as well as a camera-based Web searching tool called Google Goggles. Also included were a few improvements to Google maps.

Nexus One users will receive a message on their phone’s notification bar when the update is ready for their phone. Users can click on the notification and download the update.

According to Google’s Nexus One News and Updates Web page, the update will be rolled out gradually to phones – and most users might not receive the notification until the end of the week.

Since the unveiling of the Nexus One, Google received criticism that the phone didn’t allow for multi-touch and pinch-to-zoom functionality. Many believed the reason was Apple’s protection of its patent on multi-touch technology.