Global tablet shipments are expected to decline 15% on year to reach 51.88 million units in the third quarter as the mobile device market continues to see weak demand despite vendors' inventory preparation for the year-end holidays, the launch of Windows 10 and growth in the 4G services market...

Japan-based RT Works has launched Robot Assist Walker RT. 1, an autonomous walking-assisting cart to help old people walk, in the Japan market, becoming the fourth model of personal care robots that have been certified by ISO 13482 safety requirements, according to Digitimes Research.

July average retail pricing for 7W LED (40W incandescent equivalent) light bulbs in the China market decreased 10.2% on month to CNY30.8 (US$4.9), while that for 9W ones (60W incandescent equivalent) increased by 13.9% to CNY38.4, according to Digitimes Research.

Shipments of smartphone application processors in the China market are expected to grow 9.7% and 16% on quarter, respectively, in the third and fourth quarters of 2015, according to Digitimes Research.

Taiwan makers' shipments of LCD TVs reached 7.97 million in the second quarter of 2015, up 6.6% on quarter but down 8.6% on year, according to Digitimes Research.

Taiwan makers' shipments of small- to medium-size panels slipped 0.4% in the second quarter of 2015 to 287 million due to shrinking orders for feature handsets, according to Digitimes Research.

Taiwan makers' shipments of large-size (9-inch and above) TFT LCD panels are expected to only grow 0.7% on quarter in the third quarter of 2015 followed by 0.6% sequential growth in the fourth quarter, according to Digitimes Research. Both of the slight increases will represent on-year declines, however, due to weak demand for PC products and LCD TV vendors adjusting reserves in the second half.

Global tablet shipments declined 10% sequentially and over 15% on year to reach only 45.76 million units in the second quarter, according to Digitimes Research's latest report on the global tablet market. Major markets felt the impacts of weak currencies; mid-range to entry-level large-size smartphones continued to cannibalize tablets; and vendors saw high inventory.

The production value of Taiwan's IC design industry is forecast to rise 14.4% sequentially in the third quarter of 2015, thanks to peak seasonal effects, as well as rollouts of new smartphones and other mobile devices, according to Digitimes Research.

Taiwan's LCD monitor shipments reached only 19.42 million units in the second quarter of 2015, down 10.3% from the same quarter a year ago, showing that the industry is still in a downturn, according to Digitimes Research's new report on LCD monitors.