Google looks like its planning to launch a digital newspaper store for Android devices through the Google Play Store.

A Google Play News service has been discovered within the JavaScript of the web-based iteration of the shop.

The find by the Android Police site suggests that users will soon be able to access digital newspapers through "Issues" and "Subscriptions" bought through the Play Store.

It's likely that upon launch, the News section will sit alongside Apps, Games, Books, Magazines, Music and Movies as content categories within Android app store.

Google Reader replacement?

Some of the wording unearthed within the JavaScript hints at Google Play News being a replacement, of sorts, for the Google Reeder RSS service, which was controversially axed during the week.

However, it's probably more likely to take a similar form of Apple's Newsstand app, which sells and delivers digital newspaper issues and subscriptions to users. The language gleaned from the complex code includes:

• To read Google Play News, you must have a supported Android phone or tablet.
• Please sign in to get this News edition.
• Please sign in to purchase this News Issue.
• Please sign in to purchase this News Edition Subscription.
• Subscribing you to this news edition...
• You have subscribed to this news edition. It is now available on your device.

Perhaps we'll see this rolled new feature out at Google I/O on May 15, where the company usually unearths its new Android additions.

Apple has been accused of stealing patented speaker technology from THX for its line of iOS devices and iMac computers.

The audio company, founded by Star Wars mastermind George Lucas, has filed suit in California claiming Apple has infringed upon a patent granted to THX in 2008.

The patent in question is called "narrow profile speaker configurations and systems" and relates to how speaker units can be connected to flatscreen televisions and desktop computers to boost output.

THX is seeking compensation or royalties from Apple, in its filing to the San Jose federal court, saying the infringement has caused "monetary damage and irreparable harm."

Resemblance

Examining the patent and the suit, AppleInsider commented that speaker configurations within iOS devices did resemble those outlined in the THX patent, but were more obvious within iMac computers.

"Looking at the patent claims, there appears to be some correlation with the configurations used in Apple's products," the report claimed.

"Perhaps most compelling is the latest iMac's speakers, which features an extremely thin profile with channeled acoustics exiting down-facing apertures that are more narrow than the speaker faces hidden within the machine. It is unknown if the speaker housings actually employ '483 patent's designs, though the structure looks to be similar to those described."

Neither Apple, nor THX have commented further on the matter, while Apple has until May 14 to reach a settlement before court proceedings commence in June.