Android is expected to surpass Apple in application downloads for the first time, according to research firm Ovum. CNET / Jaymar Cabebe Android could notch 8.1 billion app downloads this year, compared with 6 billion for Apple’s iOS devices. That marks an explosion of growth for both platforms; Apple had 2.7 billion downloads and Android recorded 1.4 billion last year. …

Verizon Wireless meant business when it promised a big push for 4G LTE at CES 2011. The carrier unveiled four new devices: the HTC ThunderBolt, the Samsung Droid Charge, the LG Revolution, and the Motorola Droid Bionic. All four promise fast 4G speeds, and indeed, they deliver. However, they aren’t all the same. Here’s our roundup of all four Verizon …

Sprint announced its latest Android handset today, the affordable Android 2.3-powered Kyocera Milano. The phone, which will be available in stores and online tomorrow, features a sliding QWERTY keyboard, a 3.5-inch display, and a 3.2-megapixel camera. Other details include 512MB of RAM, 512MB of ROM, a 2GB microSD card, and support for Bluetooth, GPS, and Wi-Fi, (802.11 b/g/n). For software, …