This year, approximately 65.2 million tablets will be shipped from manufacturers to major brand vendors. Apple is expected to continue dominating the market with 40 million shipments and a 61% share for the iPad, according to a special report from DigiTimes Research (http://www.digitimes.com).

Tablet shipments were up more than 420% from one year earlier in the first half of 2010 and the market will continue with its positive momentum in the second half of the year, with shipments expected to be up more than 150% from one earlier. Apple's iPad shipments in the second half of 2011 will reach 25.5 million units, up 76% compared to the first half of the year, according to DigiTimes Research.

While Apple remains the dominant player with its iPad line, other major vendors have been looking to gain traction in this booming market. The non-iPad group's shipments in the second half are expected to reach 15.65 million units, up 65% compared to the first half of the year and accounting for 39% of total shipments.

In terms of core application processors, Apple again will dominate that market in 2011, says DigiTimes Research. And while Nvidia's Tegra series has been widely supported by brands other than Apple, shipment figures from the research group suggest that Texas Instruments (TI) is likely to be the firm to beat out for second place in the market.