Apps, email added to Nook

SAN FRANCISCO — Barnes & Noble Inc. updated its Nook Color e-reader device Monday, adding apps and email capability to the touch-screen device in an effort to make it more competitive with rival Amazon.com Inc.’s Kindle as well as tablet devices like the iPad from Apple Inc.

The company debuted the Nook Color last year following its first e-reader, the E-Ink-based Nook. The newest device featured a color, LCD-based touch screen and allowed users to surf the Web in addition to reading books. The Nook Color sells for $250 compared with $114 for the cheapest Kindle and $500 for the cheapest iPad.

On Monday, Barnes & Noble said it will now offer apps for the device, including such popular mobile games as “Angry Birds” and “Flight Control.” Other available apps include the Pulse news reader and the Pandora music streaming app. The company said it has more than 125 apps now available on its platform.

The company also added a native email application to the device, which allows users to organize Web mail accounts in one box.

Barnes & Noble also said the device will feature the Android 2.2 operating system, known as Froyo. The platform was developed by Google Inc. for tablet devices.

Apple sold almost 15 million units of the iPad in 2010, and most analysts believe the company will easily sell more than 30 million units this year.