That Black HDMI Xbox 360 just does not seem to want to die – unlike the Xbox Core Pack, which – according to reliable German site, Xbox-Arhiv – is indeed dead. The price for the Premium pack is also said to be due for (another) chop.

No hard dates are being tied to any of the ‘news’ so far – most of having been gathered from friendly retailers who majored on the price drop for the Premium pack to €299 (£204); the standalone 360 Premium currently retails at £279. One common opinion is that the hard diskless Core – currently retailing for £199 in the UK, and not making anybody real money (nor bringing pleasure to many people – discuss in the Forum below) – will cease to be sold within months.

Now for that black, HDMI, 120Gb HD, Xbox 360 (codenamed Zephyr) – which is apparently due for a May 2007 launch priced between €350 (£239) and €450 (£307).

Finally, Halo 3 will be with us in time to fill your Christmas stockings (or pillow cases if you’re expecting a Zephyr as well) and enable you to avoid tidings of comfort and joy by destroying things wantonly.

We contacted Microsoft this morning in order to be told that it does not comment on speculation – we weren’t. In fact we are waiting for a return of call in order to get a good solid no comment.