Every feature of a house has a monetary valuehow much it cost to install, and how much return on that investment the homeowner hopes to get from it when selling. Only you can know when something is worth paying more for you (if the house with a fully-stocked bomb shelter seems like its worth it, go for it). But certain home features are rarely worth paying extra for, if only because theyll cost you in the long run, whether in maintenance and upkeep or your own time and effort. Here are seven house features its okay to like, but not worth paying a premium for.Home theater systemsThere was a time when a professionally-installed home theater system was the epitome of home luxury. A big screen? A sound system in the walls and ceiling? A projector and some comfortable couches? That was how the fancy folks lived. Theres certainly a lingering glamour to a home theater, and theres nothing wrong with getting excited about movie nights if you spot one at the open house. But theyre never worth paying extra for because they date so quicklyand so poorly. Even a home theater system installed very recently is probably already a bit out of date. Meanwhile, TV screens are getting steadily larger and cheaper, streaming dongles give you access to more platforms, and soundbars are ubiquitous and easy to add to any room.At best, youll have to spend time and money updating your home theater. At worst, youll spend a lot more removing it.Lavish landscapingSometimes an enormous outdoor space can be an impressive visual. You walk outside of the house and suddenly youre in what feels like a high-end resort, or a lush garden, with a meticulously landscaped experience all around you. Its easy to imagine all the parties youll host and all the quiet cocktails youll enjoy in this incredible space.And you probably will! But lavish landscaping (and oversize outdoor spaces in general) have a huge downside that makes them more of a liability than a feature worth paying for: Maintenance. Most landscaping maintenance services are priced by the hour or by the square foot. The larger the space and the more stuff that needs trimming, tilling, repairing, watering, and feeding, the higher your monthly bill (or your personal time spent sweating in the sun) to keep everything looking good.And the problem with luxe landscaping is that without that maintenance, it will quickly turn into a yellowing, overgrown mess that you wont want anyone to see.Steam showersSteam showers cream luxuryyou can just imagine stepping in one after a long day and relaxing as a sauna blooms all around you. And steam showers are expensive (as much as $14,500!), so finding one in your dream home might make you willing to pay a bit more, since it would cost as much to install one anyway.But taking possession of a steam shower means signing up for maintenance. A lot of maintenance. Steam showers, unsurprisingly, are very prone to mold, so keeping them clean is pretty much a daily chore. The steam generator mechanism has to be checked and cleaned regularly. And even with proper maintenance, those generators can develop leaks which can lead to expensive water damage. In other words, if youre buying a steam shower dont pay extra for it because you will be paying extra for it for years to come.Backyard poolsIf you had a pool in your backyard growing up, you probably have fond memories youd love to replicate in your new home. And if you didnt have a pool in your backyard growing up you probably have bitter memories of your neighbors enjoying their pool, and so a pool in your new house is pretty exciting.And yes, pools are fun. But you shouldnt pay extra for a pool. The value-add of a pool is a complicated question for real estate professionals, but the key thing to keep in mind regarding a pool (or any water feature, for that matter) is the maintenance: Youre buying a lot of work, or a lot of invoices (close to $1,500 a years worth, on average). And if the pools not heated, youre going to have to close it up for much of the year anywayand possibly invest in a fence.Nothing wrong with enjoying a pool, or even wanting a pool. Just dont pay extra for a pool.Built-in appliancesA kitchen with built-in, integrated appliances can offer a space-age, elegant look. And for a brief period of time it can be a cutting-edge, high-end sort of kitchen. But those appliances will probably be outdated in terms of style and problematic in terms of function within a few yearsif they arent already.And built-in appliances are difficult to replace and difficult to repair, leading to extra costs when you have to replace trim work or remove cabinetry just to access them. Considering that the accepted wisdom is that you should remodel your kitchen every 10-15 years, paying extra for this stuff is probably a waste, since youll likely replace it all anyway.Whole house vacuumsCentral vacuum systems are making a bit of a comeback, sold on the convenience factorinstead of lugging a heavy vacuum around to every room, you can just plug in a lightweight hose and get to work. Theres no denying that a central vac can make cleaning the house a bit easierbut unless youre absolutely dedicated to having one, they should be regarded as a nice little extra that youre absolutely not paying a premium for.For one thing, theyre not that expensive to install, with costs ranging from $800 to $3,500, so even a brand-new system doesnt add much value to the house. For another, while they offer convenience theyre much less trouble than a regular vacuumyoure still going to have to plug in that hose in each room to do the work. Plus, repairing a central vac system can run as much as $500, as opposed to simply buying a new standalone vacuum. Wall-to-wall carpetWall-to-wall carpet is sometimes touted as a luxurious amenity, and if you love the feel of thick carpet under your bare feet, it might be. But its almost never worth paying extra for. Unless you know that the carpet was very recently installed, installed well, and is the pile and material you want, what youre buying is somebody elses carpet that may or may not be as clean as you want it to be.Carpet in general translates to a lower resale value on a home (as opposed to hardwood floors, which increase home values), which is all you need to know about its value proposition.

Hanging from a pull-up bar, without doing a pull-up, may look like a non-exercise. But dead hangs, as theyre called, are a useful tool for building grip strength, stretching your shoulders, and working toward doing pull-ups. That said, dead hangs have become trendy, and I think theyre kind of overrated. Lets break down what dead hangs can and cant do, and how you can improve on them.What are dead hangs, exactly?To do a dead hang, first you need to find a pull-up bar. You can get a doorway pull-up bar or a pull-up tower to train hangs at home, or you can find a pull-up bar at your local gym. If you havent seen one, theyre sneaky. Look for pull-up bars or handles:On squat racksOn cable machines (especially in the middle of crossover or dual-cable machines)On assisted pull-up machines (you can often fold down the knee pad and use these without assistance)To do a dead hang:Ideally, use a box or bench so you dont need to jump. But its okay if you jump up to reach the bar or handles.Grab the bar with your palms facing away from you. (Other hand positions are possible, but this is the most common way to do dead hangs.)Find a comfortable grip width, with your hands a bit wider than your shoulders. If you have an option of different handles (wider, narrower, etc), find the most comfortable.Adjust your grip, if needed. You can grab the bar either with your thumbs on top of the bar or wrapped underneath.Relax your body. Your shoulders will be right up next to your ears.These are called dead hangs because your body is like a dead weight. The opposite would be an active hang, where youre pressing your shoulders down and activating the muscles in your shoulders, back, and chest. Active hangs can be useful, but dead hangs are what were talking about today.How to use dead hangs for grip strengthThe first thing you may notice when you grab that pull-up bar is that this is not necessarily easy for your hands! Your grip muscles, mostly located in your forearms(!), need to work pretty hard to hold your body up.If youre a gymnast or a rock climber, this is no problem. But if youre new to the gym, you may find that your hands cant hold your body weight very long. Thats finedead hangs build grip strength, and youll start making progress pretty quickly.If this is too hard, prop your feet up on a box or bench (or use a lower bar, like the bar in a Smith machine, and rest your feet on the floor). This takes some of the weight off your hands.How to progress: Watch the clock (or set a timer on your watch or phone) and see how long you can hang. Start with three sets of whatever you can handle, and work up to at least three sets of 30 seconds or more, resting a few minutes in between sets.Once you can easily hang for more than 30 seconds, make it harder. My favorite progression is to hang with one full hand, and the other hand using just two fingers. On the next set, switch which hand is which. (Do four sets, so each hand gets equal work.) You can also add weight, for example with a dip belt. Another option is to do standing holds with a loaded barbell. Load the barbell heavier as your grip gets stronger.Why theyre overrated: Dead hangs are great as a beginner grip exercise, but if youre serious about training your grip, you shouldnt rely on only dead hangs. Wrist and forearm curls, thick bar work, and pinching movements should also be in the mix. And remember that if you do want to center your grip training around dead hangs, make them harder as described abovedont just hang for longer.How to use dead hangs to work toward your first pull-upInstead of dangling there, do you want to do an actual pull-up? Dead hangs are a great first step, because they help to build your grip and get you comfortable using pull-up bars. Use them the same way as you would for grip: Build up to 3 x 30 seconds, and then add active hangs and other moves to your routine.If this is too hard, prop your feet up on a box or bench, as with the grip training.How to progress: Your next step is an active hang. To do an active hang, start with a dead hang, and then pretend you are trying to pull the bar down toward the ground with straight arms. As you do this, your head and chest will rise, your shoulders will be pushed toward the ground, and your back muscles will tighten.If you do several reps, those are sometimes called scap pull-ups (because its like a pull-up, but youre moving your shoulder bladesyour scapulaerather than your arms). Heres a video example. Other key exercises in your pull-up journey may include flexed-arm hangs (where you start from the top position of a pull-up, and stay there) and negative pull-ups (where you start from the top position of a pull-up, and slowly lower yourself down). For both of these, youll use that box or bench to step into the starting position.Why theyre overrated: Dead hangs are fine as your first step into the pull-up world. But once you can do active hangs (or reps of scap pull-ups), the dead hangs arent really necessary.How to use dead hangs as a shoulder stretchIf you see me doing dead hangs, theyll be for this reason: warming up my shoulders and stretching my upper body before I do lifts where I hold a barbell overhead.I find these work best if I use a low pull-up bar, or even a bar in a squat rack or Smith machine, so that I can put my feet on the ground.The point here is not to challenge your grip, so you dont need your full weight pulling down on your hands. By putting your feet on the floor, you can easily change positions, for example leaning forward to feel the stretch more in your chest. Another good stretch is to switch your hands so your palms are facing toward you, and round your back a bit to feel the stretch in your lats (down the sides of your back).Spend as long as needed stretching your shoulders this way (3 x 30 seconds is a good guideline here as well, but you can go longer if it feels like it helps). I like to alternate these stretches with activation (strength) exercises like band pull-aparts or push-ups.How to progress: If you can comfortably hit all the positions I just described, youve pretty much achieved all the shoulder flexibility that this exercise can bring you. As with any stretch, if you want more flexibility than this can offer, choose a new set of stretches that match your goals.Why they're overrated: A dead hang is just one type of stretch. (The version that I describe here, where you get into several different positions to stretch different muscles, is a little more useful.) But shoulder health is about more than just one or a few specific stretches. You'll also want to strengthen your shoulders with a variety of exercises, and stretch your shoulders in more positions than just overhead. Dead hangs are often billed as a single magical exercise that will solve all your problems, but they really just give you the tiniest sampling of what you could get from a well-rounded program of strength training and mobility work.How to use dead hangs for spinal decompressionIve left this one for last because its the least important, at least in terms of physical benefits.People who love dead hangs often enjoy the feeling of relaxation that they feel when hanging from a bar. As the muscles in your back and core relax, you may feel your back lengthen, and this can feel nice.Why its overrated: Theres no solid evidence that this really does anything for your health or fitness.Spinal decompression (often using devices that hold a person in a specific position) has been used to treat back pain or to encourage healing of some types of back injuries. Sometimes it seems to help, but theres no clear evidence showing that the decompression is doing anythingmost injuries resolve themselves eventually, whether youre doing spinal decompression or not. A 2007 review examined several studies that are cited by marketing material for spinal decompression devices, and concluded that the quality of these studies is questionable.Ultimately, if dead hangs make you feel better, go right ahead and do them. They may even improve your grip strength and shoulder mobility as a side effect. But dont expect any serious health benefits from doing them.

The built-in speakers in most TVs arent enough to fill your living room with immersive sound that adequately showcases the finer details of movies and TV shows. Thankfully, you don't have to splurge for a five-speaker (or more) surround-sound system to improve your audio experience. In most cases, a single soundbar and maybe a subwoofer can often drastically improve the quality of Dolby Atmos content. To assist with your home theater shopping, Ive compiled a list of the best soundbars in premium, mid-range and budget price ranges, along with a summary of what sets them apart from the competition. Just know going in that the more you pay, the more youre going to get both in terms of features and performance. What to look for in a soundbar Features When it comes to features, the more you pay the more you're going to get in your new audio system. Most affordable options ($150 or less) will improve your television's audio quality, but that's about it. Step into the $300 to $400 range and you'll find a smart soundbar with things like built-in voice control, wireless connectivity, Google Chromecast, AirPlay 2 and even Android TV. They're all helpful when you want to avoid looking for the remote control, but the best sound quality is usually only in the top tier and the formats those premium soundbar systems support. Im talking about things like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and other high-resolution audio standards. These are what you'll want to look for if truly immersive sound is what you crave for your living room setup. And not all Atmos soundbars are equal, so you'll need to look at the finer details carefully before you break into the savings account. Ports Sony This is a big one. A lot of the more affordable soundbars are limited when it comes to connectivity options. They either offer an optical port or one HDMI jack and, if you're lucky, both. Things get slightly better in the mid-range section, but that's not always the case. The Sonos Beam, for example, is $449, but only has a single HDMI port. If you want to connect your set-top box, gaming console and more directly to your soundbar for the best possible audio, you'll likely want to look for an option with at least two HDMI (eARC) inputs. HDMI connections are essential for things like Dolby Atmos support, DTS:X and other high-res and immersive audio formats. And with the HDMI 2.1 spec, soundbars can support HDR, 8K and 4K/120 passthrough to make these speaker systems an even better companion for a game console. Channels Another big thing youll want to pay attention to when looking for the best soundbar is channels. Thats the 2.1, 7.1.2 or other decimal number that companies include in product descriptions. The first figure corresponds to the number of channels. A two would just be left and right while a more robust Atmos system, especially one with rear satellite speakers, could be five or seven (left, right, center and upward). The second number refers to the subwoofer, so if your new soundbar comes with one or has them built in, youll see a one here. The third numeral is up-firing speakers, important for the immersive effect of Dolby Atmos. Not all Atmos-enabled units have them, but if they do, the third number will tell you how many are in play. Wireless Sony Most soundbars these days offer either Bluetooth, WiFi or both. When it comes to WiFi, that connectivity affords you luxuries like voice control (either built-in or with a separate device), Chromecast, Spotify Connect and AirPlay 2. Depending on your preferences, you might be able to live without some of these. For me, AirPlay 2 and Chromecast are essentials, but the rest I can live without. Those two give me the ability to beam music and podcasts from my go-to apps without having to settle for or struggle with a Bluetooth connection. Size This one might seem obvious but humor me for a minute. Nothing is more soul-crushing than getting a pricey soundbar in your living room only to discover you have to rearrange everything to find a spot for it. This was my plight when the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar arrived at my door. Yes, that speaker is absurdly large (and heavy), and most soundbars aren't nearly as big. I learned a valuable lesson: Make sure the space where you want to put a soundbar will accommodate the thing you're about to spend hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars on. Basically, it all comes down to the TV you have (or are planning to get) and what the primary goal is for your living-room audio. Is it ease of use? Do you want the best possible sound from a single speaker or speaker/sub combo? Do you just want to be able to actually hear your TV better? Or do you want to turn your living room into an immersive home theater system with surround sound? By paying attention to each of those areas, you should have a good idea of what to look for in a soundbar, soundbar/subwoofer combo or a more robust setup. With that said, we've put numerous products through their paces at Engadget and have a few favorites for best soundbar at various price points to get you started. The best soundbars for 2024 Other soundbars we tested Sonos Arc Theres no doubt that the Arc is Sonos best-sounding soundbar, but its also the companys most expensive. With a new model based on the Arc rumored to be on the way, its difficult to recommend this product over the likes of Samsung and Sony. The Arc works well as both a soundbar and a speaker, and the device will fit in nicely with other Sonos gear you might already have for a multiroom setup. It only has one HDMI port though, where much of the competition allows you to connect streaming and gaming devices directly to their soundbars. Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus I dont think Sennheisers medium-sized model offers enough to stand out from the more powerful Ambeo Soundbar Max or the Ambeo Soundbar Mini. The Mini is more affordable and does a solid job with immersive audio in its own right. Like the rest of the Ambeo lineup, theres no option for satellite speakers as you can only add a subwoofer to the soundbars. However, the Ambeo Soundbar Plus does have RCA input, so you can use it with a turntable if youre into vinyl.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-soundbars-143041791.html?src=rss

A new blog post from Samsung highlights how its Galaxy Z Flip series devices are being adopted by law enforcement. The line of foldable mobile devices was part of a pilot program at the Kimberling City Police and the Indian Point Police in Missouri two years ago to test how the electronics could improve the forces' daily operations. According to Samsung, the program was the first time a foldable device was used by police as a bodycam. After the end of the pilot program, two more police departments signed on to use the Flip devices as bodycams. The solutions from those pilot tests are also being extended to 25 metro police departments in five states.The Flip devices used for the police testing were customized in a collaboration with Visual Labs, a company that repurposes mobile devices for use as body and dash cameras. The modifications, like remapping the volume button to start the camera, were intended to make it easier and faster to begin recording in the field, according to Samsung.It's a surprising use case for Samsung to emphasize for its US audience. The Verge picked up on the blog post and was also quick to cite an investigation from ProPublica and The New York Times that demonstrated how local policies can negate the positive value of bodycams, either delaying or preventing footage from being released.That said, Samsung is hardly the only tech company that has gotten involved with making its products part of law enforcement. Amazon-owned smart doorbell company Ring had (and reversed) policies of how and what footage it would share with officers. There are also broader stories still unfolding around how law enforcement are using technologies such as facial recognition and drones.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-is-marketing-galaxy-z-flip-phones-as-police-bodycams-233310531.html?src=rss

The next Made by Google is just around the corner (Aug. 13, to be exact) but you may not have to wait to find out about the Google Pixel Watch 3. A leak from a Google source to the website Android Headlines reveals some new details about the new smartwatch.The website received a bunch of promotional material from its Google source showing the specs of the Google Pixel Watch 3 and its improvements from its predecessor the Google Pixel Watch 2. The biggest difference is the size offerings in that you dont have to settle for just one. Instead of just the standard 41mm size, the Google Pixel Watch 3 will be available in 41 and 45 mm.Google is also replacing the Watch 2s AMOLED display for an Actua display in the Google Pixel Watch 3 thats 1,000 nits higher at its peak than the previous model. The battery can also charge 20 percent faster if you have the 41mm model. Battery life has long been an issue for the Pixel Watch line, and the improvements there are mixed: Google is still quoting the same 24 hours with the Always On display, but touts a new battery saver mode that extends battery life to up to 36 hours.Android HeadlinesThe Google Pixel Watch 3 will also have a bunch of new functions. It can provide live video views from Nest Cam or Nest Doorbell devices with voice support and quick access to apps like Maps and Wallet. The new watchs features have a big focus on fitness with workout tracking, haptic cues for jogging at certain paces and a detailed step tracker that can measure your average pace during a walk or a run. It also works with Fitbit Premium to provide a morning briefing of your daily fitness metrics, access to virtual trainers and ideas for recommended workouts.Of course, none of this is official or confirmed yet. We wont know all of the Google Pixel Watch 3s features and capabilities until its big reveal on Aug. 13.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/fresh-leak-shows-the-google-pixel-watch-3-comes-in-two-sizes-instead-of-one-222109082.html?src=rss