The long wait for the BBC to release an app for iPlayer is finally at an end. Kev Charlton, digital creative director for Fuse8 shares his views following its release this morning.

The app has been out since just after 9am this morning, and in-between watching Sunday’s Match of the Day 2 (for research purposes of course) and catching up on last night’s EastEnders, I’ve managed to get to grips with what it has to offer.

The first thing users will notice is that in terms of looks and feel, the app is not too dissimilar to the iPlayer web version. For a couple of years now, iOS users have been able to watch iPlayer content through the mobile Safari browser, even going as far as saving a bookmark to the device’s homescreen, essentially creating a web app. Whilst the app has a sleeker, more polished interface than it’s Safari cousin, it unfortunately doesn’t go the extra mile and make much in the way of improvements or changes.

A big feature not present, which users will be disappointed to hear about is the lack of programme downloading. Nokia users have been able to download BBC iPlayer content for two years now, but due to right-protected content, this sadly isn’t possible at present. Hopefully this is a feature which will be sorted in future updates.

Other disappointing features such as 3G support allowing for browsing only, and no BBC ID integration means that in its current incarnation, this iPlayer app still plays second fiddle to the online version.

There are a few neat touches that start to utilise the capabilities of the device, such as the ability to hold down on a programme tile for a second, and then drag that programme toward the Favourites bar, ready to watch later on. Also, the addition of TV and radio listings through the ‘Channels’ page is certainly a bonus, allowing you to quickly and easily catch up on programmes that have just been broadcast. It also allows users to watch selected programmes live as they happen. At the time of writing, I’ve just watched Cash in the Attic as it was being broadcast on TV and buffering took no longer than 3 seconds. Impressive.

Hopefully 3G programme watching, programme downloading and some serious social network integration will all be built into later updates, because right now it’s not quite the portable television I had hoped.