Ammunition’s long-standing partnership with Barnes & Noble reached a milestone today with the announcement of the All-New Nook, the ground up redesign of the company’s successful Nook digital reader. Working alongside the world’s largest book retailer, Ammunition developed product concept, industrial design, and packaging for the All-New Nook, the third e-reader and electronic publishing device to join the Nook product line.

The challenge for the All-New Nook was to create a lower cost, full featured e-reader and to do so on a timeline that would allow it to move to market quickly. The result is a $139 device that uses eInk technology, a touch interface, and wireless connectivity to create a more immersive and personal reading experience for users. With its simple, soft, rubberized form and refined details, the All-New Nook is by far the smallest and lightest dedicated e-reading tablet to come to market to date.

Pre-orders are available at Barnes & Noble retail and online stores with a ship date on or about June 10, 2011.

To learn more about Ammunition’s contributions to the Nook, Nook Color and All-New Nook, click here.

Ammunition founder Robert Brunner was in Belfast, Ireland last week to give a talk at Queen's University Belfast. The topic was on how ideas not objects are driving change in the market and defining what a company means to its constituents. While Robert regularly travels abroad to share his insights with the international design community, this was his first address to a UK university.

On the experience Robert says, “The atmosphere in Belfast is fantastic and the design community is strong and growing. It was a great opportunity to speak at Queens University about our work at Ammunition, and building an emotional connection between people and their products.”

Attendees included University staff and students involved in product and graphic design, local business representatives, and those who work in Northern Ireland’s creative industries.

The talk was organized by the Chief Executives’ Club at Queen's University in association with the Northern Ireland Technology Centre.

Third Rail Mobility, a start-up focusing on mobile power accessories, on Wednesday released its debut product: Slim Case for iPhone 4 with Slide-On Smart Battery. Ammunition developed the total design solution for the Third Rail System, creating the overall industrial design and and assisting in the development through to manufacturing.

The Third Rail System is the first protective case for smartphones with an optional, modular slide-on battery. The system, which can be purchased separately or in a bundle, includes a Slim Case to protect your iPhone 4 and a 1250 mAH Smart Battery that you can slide into place whenever you run out of juice. The removable battery can be stacked up to six deep for additional power and can charge other (non-iPhone 4) devices using a micro-USB.

Initial product reviews have been positive with CNET dubbing Third Rail as “one battery to power them all.”

For more information on the product, visit Third Rail Mobility.