Another week, another round of DOCSIS 3.0 implementations from Comcast. This time, we've learned that two new higher-speed internet tier options will be made available in Silicon Valley, Tri-Valley and Monterey, with rollouts continuing to San Francisco, Oakland and the rest of the Bay Area later this year. Needless to say, that means Extreme 50Mbps and Ultra 22Mbps packages are within reach, and better still, Comcast will be doubling the speed of existing connections for most users at no extra cost. The full list of available neighborhoods is tucked away in the read link, but before you go hunting, you should know that Extreme 50 will run you $139.95 per month while Ultra 22 will set you back $62.95. Oh, and both of 'em just help you reach your 250GB cap that much faster each month.

Another month, another city or two seeing the beauty that is DOCSIS 3.0. As Comcast continues on its quest to offer the blazing fast internet speeds in 100 percent of its markets by 2010, we're told that the great city of Chicago (or its suburbs, more specifically) now has access. Existing customers will see a speed boost at no additional cost, and those still unsatisfied can opt for a $62.95 per month 22Mbps down / 5Mbps up or $139.95 per month 50Mbps / 10Mbps connection. DSLReports has also mentioned that San Francisco should be getting upgraded in the not-too-distant future, so if you call the Bay your home, keep an eye out.

[Via Electronista]

Comcast last added in a new swath of high-def channels in the San Francisco Bay area this past April, so it goes without saying that residents are eager for some fresh material. Beginning on November 25th, customers in SF, California will see a fresh dozen hit the EPG, and those are: Bravo HD, Cartoon Network HD, CNBC HD, E! HD, Encore HD, FOX Business Network HD, FOX News Channel HD, FX HD, Hallmark Movie Channel HD, QVC HD, Speed HD and Travel Channel HD. Oh, and TBS HD will be joining the crowd on December 8th in certain CA markets, including Chico, Calaveras, Corning, Davis, Grass Valley, Modesto, Oroville, Patterson, Placerville, Roseville and Tracy. Nice, right?

Well, if it isn't about time. KNTV (the Bay Area NBC affiliate) has just recently switched its local newscasts to high-definition, giving residents of Oakland, San Francisco and San Jose the opportunity to catch up on nearby happenings in glorious HD. There has been no big to-do about it, but a video waiting after the jump shows a clip promoting the refreshed NBC Bay Area HD. So, anyone in the area ditching their favorite talking heads to view others in high-def?

[Thanks, John]

Stressing out over taxes? Sure, a new half dozen HD channels on your EPG isn't apt to solve your problems, but at least you'll have something to look forward to when you're done fighting the lines at the post office, right? Comcast has announced that six newcomers are headed to the San Francisco Bay area today: Sci-Fi HD, Food Network HD, Animal Planet HD, The Learning Channel (TLC) HD, CNN HD and AMC HD. Users in the region will also have access to over 400 high-definition on-demand choices, but the release does note that certain parts of Santa Rosa, Hayward, San Leandro, Sunnyvale, Los Gatos and Saratoga will sadly be left out of the upgrade. Here's to hoping The Man isn't holding you down, eh?

Hard though it may be to believe, San Francisco's own CBS affiliate still wasn't beaming out its newscasts in high-definition earlier this week. Thankfully for those looking for one more reason to tune in, KPIX-TV has finally gone live with HD news and can be seen in high-def on channels 5.1 (OTA locally / DirecTV / DISH) and 705 (Comcast). Go on, Bay Area, bust out the party hats -- CBS 5 is now bringing you 30 hours per week of local HD programming. Check out the full release after the jump.

[Thanks, Akilah]

As the HDTV movement continues to reshape the average hotel room experience, Hilton has made sure it doesn't get left behind. Recently, the chain launched 25 "home theater-like" Sight+Sound rooms at the Hilton Chicago O'Hare International Airport, while 30 guest rooms at the Hilton San Francisco received the makeover. Among the amenities are a 42-inch LG plasma, Yahama's YSP-800 Digital Sound Projector, Monster cabling, DirecTV programming including 14 HD channels and a number of XM radio stations, and a high definition menu system from LodgeNet. Additionally, guests can hook up their DAPs or external audio sources to a unique "connectivity panel," and just in case you forget to pack an extra bag of cables, the specially equipped rooms should provide all the copper you need. Notably, this here setup sounds like one of the most fully-featured HD offerings found in a "standard" hotel, and now that it's been available for a few months, have any of you had an opportunity to indulge?

And a chicken in every pot, and a car in every garage. Well, at least one of those things is true. We'll be sure to have the Four Seasons Silicon Valley on our list for the next HD Beat retreat, but not because of the floor to ceiling windows with a view of the bay, rooftop pool or spa. The WiFi is nice but that's not it either. 42-inch plasma HDTVs (hopefully they really are HDTVs) in every room however, are just the right addition.