iSuppli

Vizio widened its lead in the U.S. liquid-crystal-display television market in the fourth quarter, according to a new report from research firm iSuppli. Samsung and Sony lost market share from a year ago, although Sony gained ground from the third quarter.

Apple more than doubled its revenue from its mobile-device applications last year, though its global share of that market slipped slightly as applications for Research in Motion's BlackBerry and Google's Android mobile-computing platform chipped away at Apple's leadership, according to a report released Tuesday.

While more than three-quarters of Americans have a favorable impression of solar energy, very few have been willing to invest in the technology. Is this about to change?

Analysts are feeling bullish about the market for tablet computers, with two new reports projecting that global unit sales will jump tenfold over the next few years.

Pricing for television and computer screen panels in November rose for the first time in eight months as retailers geared up for what they hope will be improved sales of consumer electronics products for the 2010 holiday season.

Global semiconductor revenue growth this year will be slower than previously expected, as weaker-than-expected demand for personal computers and other consumer-electronic devices will cause inventory to pile up, iSuppli said in a statement today.

Apple's newest version of its iPod Nano is the second-cheapest to produce out of the six generations of the media players, increasing the likelihood that the new product will boost profits for the computing and media-player giant, according to a report released Monday.

Shipments of smaller liquid-crystal display (LCD) flat panels will surge this year, boosted by the growing popularity of smart phones and tablet-type computer devices. Meanwhile, shipments of larger LCD panels used for television sets are in a slump.

Lower-than-expected flat-screen TV sales have created a glut in liquid-crystal display panels and are unlikely to be bolstered anytime soon from 3-D TV demand. That means prices for LCD panels -- and TVs -- are falling once again.

Apple's wildly popular iPad tablet computer is expected to maintain its market dominance over the next couple of years, despite a number of rivals rushing to churn out similar products, according to a report released Wednesday.