Many months ago, we ran an item about how pundits were discussing whether or not Google was the king of all media. This time around, Microsoft's getting the same treatment, due to a short New York Times interview with J Allard, the man behind the Zune music service who originally helped propel the original Xbox to launch.

Reporter Saul Hansell said that based on what he learned--that Microsoft is looking to use the Zune and Xbox Live platforms as a way to offer all kinds of communication and entertainment products and services--he thinks that it all "seems a bit too much like the initial plan for MSN... This new network would be the switchboard through which all entertainment content and communication flows."

J Allard: Microsoft's Plan to Be King of All Media [NYT]