Manufacturers:
TAMKO
CertainTeed, (Landmark)
GAF (Timvberline)
Owens Corning

The bottom line is of the more popular manufacturers, Owens Corning, GAF, Certainteed, Tamko and Atlas all good types, but you will find complaints about all of them, probably because of poor installation.

At Roofing Buying Guide - Consumer Reports they say,
"The most popular by far, asphalt shingles are made of fiberglass sandwiched between asphalt and ceramic granules. Relatively light and easy to install, they are a good choice if you're looking for style at a budget price. They may last 30 years or more but can be vulnerable to high winds.

3-tab or Strip Shingles:
Three-tab asphalt shingles, though similarly priced, are made in a single layer. They're flatter and thinner than laminated shingles and didn't perform in past Consumer Reports tests.

Dimensional Shingles or Architectural Laminated Shingles:
Architectural shingles are layered, and their thickness and depth make them look more like slate or wood shakes.

Organic
The traditional organic mat-based shingles are made from a recycled layer of felt paper, asphalt-saturated for waterproofing, and coated with adhesive asphalt into which the ceramic granules are embedded. With 40 percent more asphalt than their fiberglass counterparts, the traditional organic mat-based shingles are heavier, thicker and more costly. While organic shingles are considered more rugged and more flexible, they are also more absorbent and can warp over time. The additional asphalt content also makes them less environmentally friendly.

Impact Resistant:
Houses in areas prone to hurricanes and/or strong wind gusts need a shingle with high wind resistance. And along with high winds comes a certain amount of debris in the air. Impact-resistant shingles contain a tough fiberglass base to prevent cracking when they take a hit. Tougher than the fiberglass used for the layers, this scrim is visible on the shingle bottom. Shingles with the highest impact resistance carry a " TARGET="_blank"> label and can withstand a 2-in. steelball traveling 90 mph.
See Approved Impact Resistant Roofing Products | American Family Insurance

Cool Shingles:
If you use an air conditioner during most of the summer, you should consider two products that are designed to keep the roof cooler. By spraying the granules with a white ceramic coating before adding the finish color, the manufacturers of these shingles are able to improve solar reflectance.

Warranty:
Brands used to have 30, 40, and 50 year shingles. 30 was the majority of what was used, but the customer could pay more for even thicker 40 or 50 year varieties with more material weight and more distinctive shadow lines. Now, asphalt shingles will never last 50 years but at least you could see the "good, better, best" progression with the old system.

One of the companies got the bright idea to call their 30 yr a "lifetime shingle" to differentiate from the other manufacturers. That differentiation didn't last because the others quickly followed suit. So what changes were made to the old 30 yr to now be called "lifetime?" Absolutely nothing.

The coverage period on a lifetime shingle is broken into two periods. If a defect is found within the first 10 years, material and labor costs (for installation only) are covered. Starting with year 11, only prorated material costs are covered, and labor is up to you. Damage related to transportation, storage, installation.

Most manufacturers will transfer a lifetime warranty from the original homeowner to the first subsequent buyer, though coverage will be reduced to 50 years. Some manufacturers will only transfer if the house is sold within the first 10 years of the warranty period; for TAMKO, it must be within two years. Most manufacturers require written notice of the change in ownership within 30 to 60 days of the sale, and Owens Corning requires a $100 transfer fee.

At answers.angieslist.com they say,
"ASTM D3462 is THE standard for fiberglass shingles, and has been since fiberglass shingles were created. Only two manufacturers have their shingles tested by an independent party (Underwriters Laboratories) to meet this standard, which encompasses the tear strength, nail pull through resistance, and wind uplift of a shingle. Those two companies are CertainTeed (nationwide) and Pabco (West coast.)"
ASTM - American Society for Testing and Materials.

Both GAF and Certainteed had lawsuits, but the Certainteed suit was for organic shingles not the fiberglass Landmark.

Reviews at Roofery.com

Type	Score	# reviews
Owens Corning	4.2	61
Landmark (Certainteed)	4.0	5
GAF	3.4	59
Timberline (GAF)	3.1	28
Elk	3.0	16
Decra	2.7	24
Atlas	2.5	22
Certainteed	2.4	63
Tamko	2.1	91
BP	1.8	103
Dura-Loc	1.1	58
IKO	1.7	141

At GAF Timberline Shingles vs. Certainteed Landmark | Roofing Shingles they say,
" If I had to pick a winner I would personally go with the GAF Timberline shingle line over the Landmark shingles, but that is largely based on preferences in shingle colors. Both shingles are very well made, and when properly install by a certified contractor, you are getting a quality product."

Comments at answers.angieslist.com :
" I primarily install CertainTeed Landmark shingles and my feeling is that they are the best on the market in my area. I'm sure others will disagree with me."

But don't miss the point, the roofer is more important than the shingle.
You will have problems with any shingle if it is not installed properly."

"If you surveyed most roofers and asked what they would put on their home, Certainteed would be first with Owens Corning and GAF fighting for 2nd."

"I finally decided on Owens s after reading consumer reviews that found only 25% of consumers were satisfied with TAMKO; 40% approval rating for CertainTeed; 70% for GAF; and 85% approval rating for Owens Corning. "

"Instead of listening to anecdotal evidence, why not look at shingle standards (ASTM specifications), and then find out who actually has their products tested by someone independent of themselves to meet those standards....
Only two manufacturers have their shingles tested by an independent party (Underwriters Laboratories) to meet this standard, which encompasses the tear strength, nail pull through resistance, and wind uplift of a shingle. Those two companies are CertainTeed (nationwide) and Pabco (West coast.)"

Links:
Best Brand Of Shingles, TODAY - Roofing - Contractor Talk
will-your-next-asphalt-roof-last-a-lifetime.pdf | chiefarchitect.com
2009 Consumer Reports ratings
GAF Timberline Shingles vs. Certainteed Landmark | Roofing Shingles
GAF Timberline Defective Roof Shingles Class Action Lawsuit