Barnes & Noble adds apps to Nook e-reader

Barnes & Noble is adding an applications store and an email program to its Nook e-reader. That brings the $249 device closer to working like a tablet computer in the vein of the iPad.

The Nook has a color touchscreen, giving it capabilities beyond those of Amazon.com’s competing Kindle, which has a gray-scale screen that isn’t touch sensitive.

The Nook runs Google Inc.’s Android software, which is used on phones and tablets, but doesn’t run standard Android applications. Instead, Barnes & Noble is encouraging developers to submit specially written applications to its Nook Apps store.

Among the more than 125 applications available Monday are the game “Angry Birds” and cooking recipe vault “Epicurious.” Barnes & Noble is also adding the ability to play Flash content on the Nook’s Web browser.