Worldwide media tablet shipments into sales channels rose by 56.1% on a sequential basis in the fourth calendar quarter of 2011 (4Q11) to 28.2 million units worldwide, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Media Tablet and eReader Tracker. That represents an increase of 155% from the fourth quarter of 2010. The market experienced stronger-than-expected growth across many regions and at many price points, leading to a full-year 2011 total of 68.7 million units. Based upon the markets' strong 2011 finish, and the clear demand expected in 2012, IDC has increased its 2012 forecast to 106.1 million units, up from its previous forecast of 87.7 million units.

LAS VEGAS -- At the AT&T Developers Summit keynote being held at CES 2012, Samsung's Kevin Packingham showed its new hybrid phone/tablet device - the Galaxy Note. With a 5.3-inch HD Super AMOLED display, 1.5GHz dual core processor, 8 megapixel back and 2 megapixel front camera, the new Galaxy Note is a tweener mobile device that sits in between a tablet and a smartphone. The hybrid device will support AT&T's fast new 4G LTE network as well as AT&T's legacy 3G network. It also has a stylus pen which Samsung is calling the S-Pen which will allow Galaxy Note users to input to the device using handwriting as well as do doodles when you're bored. Pricing and availabiity werre not announced.

Apple continues to lead the smartphone market with its iPhone line, including the new iPhone 4S. But there's plenty of competition coming from Google Android. Smartphone makers like HTC are closing the gap. Check out the HTC EVO glasses-free 3D phone in action below.

Today, Rockstar Games announced that Grand Theft Auto III: 10 Year Anniversary Edition will be hitting the iOS and Android Marketplace on December 15th for 4.99. The game that put sandbox gaming on the map goes back to its roots as it takes over portable devices for the first time ever! Who's up for a romp in Liberty City?

Driven by booming sales of low-end models, shipments of smartphone will rise to account for more than half of the worldwide cellphone market in 2015, according to a new IHS iSuppli Mobile Handset Market Tracker report. Global smartphone unit shipments will soar to 1.03 billion units in 2015, more than double the 478 million in 2011.

U.S. consumers purchased an estimated 1.75 million Blu-ray Disc 3D (BD3D) discs at retail during the format's first 12 months on the market, and brought home another 1.7 million units as part of hardware/software bundling deals, according to the new IHS Screen Digest report entitled “Life in 3D: BD3D's First Year of Sales,” from information and analysis provider IHS. These sales were spurred, in part, thanks to the free PlayStation 3 upgrade that turns any PS3 into a Blu-ray 3D player. The lower cost of 3D TVs from companies like Vizio is also helping sales.

ORLANDO, Florida -- The CTIA Wireless 2011 officially opened today with a bang as Samsung announced two new Galaxy Tab tablets, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and 8.9, to its growing line of tablets. In its on-stage presentation, Samsung showed different users favoring different sizes based on their needs and lifestyles. With the announcement, Samsung now has the most comprehensive size range of tablets with a 7, 8.9 and 10 inch tablets. Samsung highlighter the sizes with a huge 3D sign in front of the CTIA trade show entrance. Samsung has been one of the more successful competitors to Apple's iPad and iPad 2 in the hot and growing tablet space.

BARCELONA -- Google (GOOG) and its Android operating system dominated Mobile World Congress being held this week in Barcelona as the search engine company's foray into the mobile world has quickly reached a crescendo. Google's fun green and white two story booth, complete with a smoothie juice bar and a circular slide where attendees could slide down in the middle of the booth and get their picture taken, represented a stark contrast to the more formal and stuffy business-like booths in this B2B-oriented, mobile industry show. The booth itself represented a departure from Google's normal trade show appearances, which have usually been much smaller and more utilitarian in design.

There's been a lot of hype surrounding the launch of 3D TV, but is the new technology worth buying right away? Consumer Reports tested several new sets in its labs—the first hands-on evaluation outside the manufacturers' facilities—and found that the sets live up to their advance billing, but the average consumer shouldn't rush out to buy one.