Just six more to go until DirecTV hits the 121 markets promised HD locals by year end, customers in Des Moines-Ames, Iowa; El Paso, Texas; Fort Wayne, Ind.; La Crosse-Eau Claire, Wis.; Peoria-Bloomington, Ill.; and Rockford, Ill. joined the party today. Which ones are available in each market are your and are best guess, but Kevin let us know that Fort Wayne snapped on CBS, ABC, NBC, PBS, and FOX, so here's hoping for the best.

[Thanks, Kevin]

Summer's over, but DirecTV isn't done with its rollout of local HD channels. Leading off the fall additions are Champaign-Springfield-Decatur, IL, Burlington, VT-Plattsburgh, NY, and the Myrtle Beach-Florence S.C. areas. With these in, that brings the total of areas with local HD channels on satellite to 94, with 27 more planned for the rest of the year. Peep the read links to find out which channels in which markets.

Read - Champaign-Springfield-Decatur, Ill.
Read - Burlington Vt.-Plattsburgh N.Y.
Read - Myrtle Beach-Florence, S.C.

We hate to admit it, but the longer we have to wait for something, the more anxious we get. So it should be no surprise that after nine months, we can't wait to check out Samsung's new Media Center Extender. We got word last week that the little guy was available for pre-order on Best Buy, but the lack of expected release date left us hanging. Now Amazon also has it available for pre-order, but this time with a release date of October 15th. That leaves just over two weeks before we can all find out if this thing is all it's cracked up to be -- you know, made to mount on the back of the latest Samsung TVs, and HDMI-CEC for seamless one remote operation.

Hey, Sammy -- bet you thought we forgot about that little MediaLive Digital Media Adapter of yours, huh? For everyone that had, let us bring you back up to speed. After launching under a different name at CES 2008, this puppy was officially revealed in the summer. Unfortunately, the supposed August ship date has come and gone, and it doesn't seem like too many folks are up in arms about it. Nevertheless, the obviously delayed Media Center Extender has finally found itself a holding page over at Best Buy, where's it's listed in detail for $199.99. The "Coming Soon" bit doesn't really give us much to go on, but we'd suspect Samsung would want to get this out before the holiday shopping season kicks into high gear. Now would also be a wonderful time to shave $50+ off of the MSRP in order to make folks care once more -- just sayin', is all.

[Thanks, Lindsay]

Not quite a month after DISH Network unveiled its summer / fall HD locals, DirecTV is continuing to excite by announcing its next 44 markets that will receive HD locals. According to the company, it will be providing local HD broadcasts in 121 cities by the end of 2008, which will reportedly represent 88-percent of US TV households. Just after 30 some-odd new HD channels go live on August 14th, it will begin rolling out HD locals to cities like Augusta, GA, Baton Rouge, LA, Boise, ID, Chattanooga, TN and El Paso, TX. There are 39 more markets to scan through in the read link -- here's to hoping your locale is listed!

Yeah, you may be burning that midnight oil, but your weariness isn't the reason you're certain you've seen this thing before. Touted at CES as the MediaSmart Receiver, the re-dubbed MediaSmart Connect is finally available for pre-order. Just as we heard before, this unit takes full advantage of Extender for Windows Media Center technology, and although it possesses no internal storage space, it will pull in digital media from around your home (and a variety of online media outlets) and pipe it straight to your HDTV. The unit plays nice with other UPnP- and DLNA-compliant devices and includes 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, an Ethernet port, HDMI / component jacks and support for MPEG2/4, DivX, XviD, WMV, MP3, WMA, AAC, JPEG and BMP files (among others). Prospective buyers can get their order in today for $349.

Just over a month ago, whispers started swirling that Palm Springs, California residents could expect locals through DirecTV in mid-January. Right on cue, the satellite provider has delivered, as the aforementioned citizens now have access to PBS, ABC (KESQ), CBS (KPSP), NBC (KMIR), FOX (KDFX) and Telemundo (KUNA). Unfortunately, it seems that they're only available in MPEG4 SD (and The CW is sorely absent, too), but here's to hoping that forthcoming D11 satellite launch can provide those residing in the desert with a touch of high-definition.

On the real, we're not quite sure we're ready to sink hard-earned dollars into a digital media "ecosystem" crafted by the same folks working up mobile printers and craptastic portable DVD players, but we suppose we can't kvetch over any extra competition. Apparently, the firm's Freescape initiative is based around the Digital Media Exchange (pictured), which stores your precious content and passes it along to other Freescape products -- you know, like the accompanying Digital Media Extender, wireless digiframe and wireless PMP. No word on a price for any of this kit just yet, but we've all ideas that's a-okay with the most of you.

[Via Pocket-Lint]

As the flood of media receivers continue to pour out, we've noticed a new one from Pinnacle Systems that comes with 802.11b/g WiFi built-in, hearts Macs and PCs alike (according to the PR, at least) and handles HD streaming like it's its job. The ShowCenter 250HD is a self-proclaimed "plug-and-play digital media adapter" that includes an Ethernet jack, UPnP support and the ability to play nice with HD WMV, DivX HD or MPEG2 video formats. Additionally, this unit understands AVI, XviD, MP3, WMA and PCM WAV files (among others), and includes a myriad ports including USB 2.0, composite / S-Video / component video outputs, a pair of stereo audio outs and coaxial / optical digital audio jacks. If you just noticed a hint of drool rolling down the left side of your mouth, casually wipe it up and bust out your credit card, as this one will only run you $199.99 at a number of fine e-tailers.

[Via Uber-Review]

After visiting Dish Network's booth at CEDIA and noticing a prominent sign boasting of a future relationship with IPTV, we can't say we're totally shocked to see this develop. Nevertheless, EchoStar unveiled today its ViP-TV MPEG-4 IPTV transport platform, which has the ability to beam out "over 300 channels of secure broadcast quality television programming via satellite to telecommunication firms, private / rural cable operators, municipalities and master planned community video providers that have obtained rights for distribution." Deemed a "turnkey solution" for wholesale content delivery, ViP-TV will also offer up locals in 165 designated market areas including 30 in HD. Interestingly, it seems that Dish doesn't much mind competing with itself so long as would-be Dish Network customers choose ViP-TV, and while it sounds mighty ambitious, ViP-TV General Manger Daniel Daines was quoted as saying that he hopes to have "paying customers on the platform in January 2008." For the full slate of down and dirty details, be sure and visit the read links below.

[Via TeleCompetitor]
Read - ViP-TV Press Release [PDF]
Read - ViP-TV website

Evidently, loosing the DSM-750 Extender for Windows Media Center just wasn't enough for D-Link, as the firm seemingly felt the need to give loyal (and to-be) owners of the DSM-520 Wireless HD Media Player a nice bonus. Starting today, buyers of the aforementioned digital media adapter will have access to "more than 200 online channels," as the unit can now take advantage of active-TV technology. The service reportedly "allows easy access to internet video and entertainment sites with a remote control," and it also uses a "content aggregator developed by MediaMall Technologies." Some notable channels include Comedy Central, CinemaNow, Google Video, Movielink, ROOtv Music Videos, Akimbo, MTV, Musicmatch, Napster, VH1, ESPN and FOX Sports, and there's also international content out there for those willing to branch out. The expanded DSM-520 should be shipping momentarily for $249.99, and existing owners can snag the update gratis on October 4th.

DirecTV continues to roll out the MPEG-4 locals, today announcing a slew of cities new to the list, all starting broadcasts today. As always, DirecTV subscribers will need to have the correct new 5 LNB satellite dish & receiver to get the new broadcasts.

The areas & stations announced today are:

• Denver, Colorado:
  
• KMGH/ABC, KCNC/CBS, KDVR/FOX, KUSA/NBC
• Hartford, Connecticut:
  
• WFSB/CBS, WVIT/NBC
• Miami, Florida:
  
• WPLG/ABC, WFOR/CBS, WSVN/FOX and WTVJ/NBC
• West Palm Beach, Florida:
  
• WPBF/ABC, WPTV/NBC
• Baltimore, Maryland:
  
• WMAR/ABC, WJZ/CBS, WNFF/FOX, WBAL/NBC
• Charlotte, North Carolina:
  
• WSOC/ABC, WCCB/FOX, WCNC/NBC
• Raleigh-Duram, North Carolina:
  
• WTVD/ABC, WNCN/NBC
  
• Cleveland, Ohio:
  
• WEWS/ABC, WJW/FOX, WKYC/NBC
• Olando, Florida
• WFTV/ABC, WKMG/CBS, WOFL/FOX, WESH/NBC

[Thanks for the tip Andy!]
[Update: added Orlando stations]