As expected, the BBC launched its online iPlayer service allowing UK citizens to download and watch any BBC program that's aired in the last 7 days. Once you've downloaded a video you can watch it for up to 30 days. The service is not currently available outside of the UK.

The service also only works on Windows machines right now, since it uses Microsoft's digital rights management software to prevent users from sharing files with friends or uploading them to the internet.

The iPlayer is still in beta, but users can sign up for an invitation, and a wider release is expected this fall. Meanwhile, here's a roundup of iPlayer related news:

• BBC online video service launches - BBC
• First look at the BBC iPlayer - Mashable
• BBC iPlayer beta arrives; 10,000 people complain to Gordon Brown - Ars Technica
• BBC launches video download service - After Dawn