Dull but worthy, the Twitter for iPad app doesn't excite

Bland but functional. That's the official Twitter app for iPad. It ties up all the most important features of Twitter, while leaving out a lot of useful functionality found elsewhere.

While we could excuse a lack of features on a smartphone application, when given the freedom of a large, glossy iPad screen the Twitter app comes up short.

It does the simple things right – timeline and mentions and messages are all quick and easy to access. Posting an update is just a tap away and the interface, while dull and lifeless, is at the very least functional.

One option on the menu, for Lists, is quite baffling. It shows you lists currently being followed, but there is no option anywhere to subscribe to new lists. Such functionality should be exactly what an iPad does, but it doesn't.

Links and pictures in posts are helpfully displayed below, so there's no need to leave the app to find out what someone is talking about.

The Mentions screen does a decent job of showing who's been talking about you on Twitter, but it doesn't display re-tweets, so you will be left in the dark about those. Updating your profile is down in a tiny little text box that is aesthetically uninspiring.

In short, the official Twitter app for iPad does the basics right and has one important plus point – it is better than the Twitter website. Still, we would like to see some improvements to take advantage of the iPad's lovely big screen.