Music is a big deal for most students.

Whether you’re a festival junkie, like to check out local gigs or just love making new playlists for your commute through London, music is a big part of our daily lives. But what if you could go to the next level of listening to your favourite music through your headphones? Well Yamaha have done just that.

Yamaha has released its new Silent Piano Technology, which enables the piano player to listen to whatever they play through their headphones. The hammers no longer hit the strings, but instead connect to a sophisticated sensor technology that sends impulses to the digital tone module.

…the old age tradition of tinkling the ivories…

Sounds complicated, but the technology merges the old age tradition of tinkling the ivories with the familiar entertainment of today. No longer do you need to worry about your noise levels upsetting anyone, the piano has alternate settings to change the tone of the keys, the choice to record your performances, and you can connect your mobile device to utilise different apps.

Check out the worthwhile video of chart-topping classical pianist HJ Lim enjoying herself on a canal:

If you have the chance, definitely try out this acoustic-digital hybrid. Even if you aren’t a pianist, the ingenuity and forward thinking that has gone into the Silent Piano Technology is awe inspiring.

The Royal Bank of Scotland has some pretty nifty ideas.

Where most universities get funding to run their sports societies, independent communities have to scrimp and save to run sports projects. In some cases hard work and determination, usually by the members themselves, help to raise funds to create clubs and community initiatives. However, RugbyForce is making things easier by injecting much needed funds, online guidance and the tools to generate a community wide support effort.

RBS deals with the clubs in Scotland, while other banks help the other parts of the UK. The initiative was launched in 2009 and has helped over 1000 clubs so far.

Check out the worthwhile video here:

Whether or not you took part in sports societies at university, no doubt you knew someone who was involved. University doesn’t last forever and when you move on it’s a nice thought that there can be new and exciting community clubs waiting for you to join.

Samsung has released the Galaxy S4 which has a way to share documents that has got us very excited.

As far as technology goes it is very easy to share your personal documents, photos, songs and other bits between your own accounts. However, try to share it with someone else and usually you will find some kind of problem. This usually stems from different platforms (Apple, Microsoft etc…), but now there is a simpler way to share what you want with the people you love.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is a titan of a phone. It has a ridiculous amount of tech within in it and this year Samsung are making a big push in advertising to let their customers know about the cache of goodies waiting inside the phone. Group Play is a nifty program that lets you connect to your friends phones in the same way a Wi-Fi network works. However, once you have connected and made a group with your friends, all you have to do to share a file or song is to touch the two phones together. Simple and incredibly hassle free.

…we are keen to see how quickly this Group Play catches on…

As the launch of the handset is relatively new, we are keen to see how quickly this Group Play catches on. The only set back seems to be that a lot of people overlook Group Play, but once found I’m sure it will make Samsung customers lives a lot easier.

In the last couple of years the zombie theme in gaming has come in leaps and bounds.

Like any genre it has to evolve to stay current. For zombie horror the evolution started with The Walking Dead television series that bridged the gap between action horror, and thought provoking family drama. Since this, gaming companies have been trying to emulate the feeling of attachment to characters within gameplay. This was partially seen in The Walking Dead game (check out our review here) as well as Dead Island and its sequel.

The Last of Us is possibly the greatest example of creating an attachment to a character through its storyline. The storyline starts like most zombie horrors; a fungal plague has devastated human civilization, turning the majority of people into infected monsters that prey on the small pockets of human settlements that are left. You take control of the character of Joel whose primary role is to protect a young girl called Ellie. As you traverse the landscapes of a ruined world, you encounter swarms of infected and incredibly dangerous people. In fact as far as villains go I would say that the main reasons to be afraid are your fellow survivors. At least the infected are predictable.

…The location design is outstanding…

The beauty of this game lies in its character development and harsh themes of survival. The location design is outstanding, but what else would you expect from the developers who also made Uncharted? Already this game is set to win countless awards and in my opinion this could be the pinnacle of gaming for the next couple of years.

Many of you will know that I am a big film fan.

Because I like to keep up-to date with new projects there are a few select sites that I will browse to keep on track. You’ve got the big players like IMDB and Short Of The Week, and the obscure sites like Mandy or Indiegogo. Indiegogo is an odd choice in relation to film as I see it more about creative design and community projects, whereas Kickstarter is the golden child when it comes to film funding. Nevertheless there are many film projects on offer on Indiegogo and so without further ado here are the top 3 projects to check out.

Lashes by Christine Sherwood

This project came to my attention by a friend who worked on the shoot and absolutely adored the production. It follows a girl who basically has the worst day of her life, but emerges from all of the chaos with a better understanding of who she is.

Check out the Lashes indiegogo page and contribute here.

Ivy by Craig Mclearie

I’m a big fan of thrillers, especially anything with a serial killer twist.

Following in the footsteps of Silence of the Lambs and Se7en, Ivy follows the story of a detective after a gruesome serial killer. However, not all is as it seems in this stylish thriller, as the detective, hot on the killers trail, starts to doubt if everything is as it seems.

Check out the Ivy indiegogo page and contribute here.

WHAT GOES UP by Andrew Coates and Matt Gambell

I am always interested in what students can achieve. WHAT GOES UP is the perfect example of a great idea combined with hard determination.

The film follows the story of Lee, a passionate (but struggling) coder and his best friend designer Ray as they pursue creating the greatest video game they can possibly imagine. Whilst doing this, Lee is also battling his nerve to talk to Sarah the girl of his dreams who works in the office below. But when the universe mysteriously gifts him a cube resembling a popular puzzle toy, Lee sees his fate change for the better.  Lee soon becomes his own worst enemy as he has to choose between his own happiness and that of those around him.

Check out the WHAT GOES UP indiegogo page and contribute here.

Students look forward to travelling.

That said we have all heard the horror stories of travel becoming a nightmare when on that trip around Europe. However, a new and exciting site called goeuro.co.uk has put together a neat and easy travel search finder, which brings together flight, train and bus options for your trip.

 Recently I have spent a lot of time in Paris. To get there can be a nightmare, so I decided to check out goeuro and see the best options it had for me to get to the city of love. The interface is easy, bright and colourful that fits in with the way that Europe sees itself. After setting in a round trip starting and coming back date (they also cater one way), your choice sends you to a nicely laid out page that shows you a variety of information. You can choose air, bus or train tickets. The site is linked to google maps that shows you your journey, prices and the time it will take you to get to your destination.

…this will be included very soon in the future…

Overall it is a useful site that brings you up-to date information on the best way to get to your destinations. The only set-backs I can see so far with the site is that it only really works with long distance travel. Local travels (buses in particular) are a little hit and miss, but I’m sure this will be included very soon in the future.

So if you want competitive pricing on travel definitely check it out.

With the world’s population booming, technology making leaps and bounds, and everyone thinking they can be famous; it’s difficult to make an impact with your blog.

But that doesn’t stop people trying. In fact if you look online there are blogs of varying choice to choose from. But what is the best way to make a successful blog? Here at Mouthlondon a majority of our contributors have their own awesome sites and blogs. So we thought we’d count down the top 5 needs to make your blog a success.

Have a great idea

If you enjoy films then write a blog about films. You like cooking? Tell the world about your family’s famous recipe for bbq ribs. Try to think about what you have seen online, and then put your own spin on it. Although imitation is the cheapest form of flattery, something extra and unusual goes a long way to bringing in new readers.

Don’t do it for money

Unfortunately you aren’t going to be able to make money on your blog. It takes a lot of time to make an impact and even when you’re established, advertisers are interested in pumping money into sites that generate millions of views a week. If your blog makes money that is a massive deal, but don’t start one with the intention of living off it because you will starve to death.

Get a good provider

Most blogs are built on WordPress, it’s easy to learn to use and you can make some rather nice blogs from it. However to make sure your site always has support in the face of viruses and back-ups, it’s good to have an internet provider you can trust. Most have good deals, but 1&1 is fast, relatively cheap (which is great for students) and has a great support team. It’s good to have a provider you can trust, especially if you lose 1000 articles over night because of a coding error. Check out the 1&1 homepage here.

Spread the word

Social media is a big deal in securing the future of your blog. Get your friends and family to follow your blog, create twitter and Facebook pages, and update your followers on any new projects. Also learn social trends: when is best to post tweets, the optimum times that people check your blog (lunchtimes and late evenings for example) and subjects that get people talking.

Love it

Finally love your blog. It’s your baby and only you will put in the amount of time and effort to keep it awesome. People will seem interested in helping, but kindly decline their offer and keep doing what you’re doing. This way your blog will become pure to your ideas and an extension of you.

Now I know what you are thinking.

To make music you have to use your brain in some capacity.

Well Smirnoff have sponsored a program, along with the QEF, called Mindtunes that goes one step further. By the use of brainwaves it allows for a group of disabled music fans make music with nothing but their minds. The project is bringing together chart topper music producer DJ Fresh, PhD and brainwave technology expert Julian Castet.

…the electrical activity is recorded…

Using an ElectroEncephaloGraphy device (EEG), the electrical activity is recorded, then transferred into beats, which are then relayed into music.

Overall it’s a fascinating and worthwhile project that brings the once I a lifetime opportunity to those who would never be able to play music by conventional means.

Check out the video below and if you are interested in purchasing the track then check it out here.

Staying in hotels can be fun.

Whether you’re staying one night because you got too drunk and missed the last train, or going off for a holiday or city break, the freedom that a hotel room can give you is a wonderful feeling.

So which hotel? There are tons to choose from here in the capital, from luscious opulence to cosy and quaint.

…it won’t be long till we nestle in…

However if you are looking for an amazing night’s sleep then look no further than Ibis. The chain has just unleashed a new bed and coverings that are supposed to be made for the best night’s sleep possible. We’ve yet to try out these so-called amazing beds, but being avid hotel-stayers here at Mouth, it won’t be long till we nestle in and see what all the fuss is about.

And what better way to spread the word about these beds then testing them on bunnies. Not in a lipstick wearing way, but letting 30 fluffy rabbits loose in a suite and seeing where they end up snuggling.

…everyone loves cuddly bunnies…

It’s a clever ploy because as far as we know everyone loves cuddly bunnies. Like the procrastination time internet users put into watching cats do stupid things, this new advert will attract a lot of attention.

So when booking your next hotel think about the bunnies, snuggled, with legs in the air, and make a choice. I bet it’s for Ibis.

Like any sportsperson, you want to be at the top of your game and constantly improving your performance, which means combining serious training with the correct nutrition so that your body has everything it needs to give its all.

Despite the controversy around supplements, when taken properly as part of a balanced diet and sourced from a reputable provider like MaxiShop.co.uk, they are a safe and efficient way to enhance your performance, and are used by a number of top athletes. Whatever your sport, you could benefit from the effects of whey protein, creatine, glutamine, weight loss shakes and caffeine.

A natural protein isolated from milk, whey protein is usually taken as a protein shake before or after exercise. Whey protein helps keep your body fuelled so that you can perform at maximum capacity. It also decreases your recovery time after a workout session, promoting faster muscle growth. The amino acids in whey protein can give your immune system a boost, making it a great supplement for any sportsperson.

…vital for muscle cell growth…

Glutamine is one of the most important of these amino acids; mostly found in the muscles, glutamine has a variety of functions in the body including energy production, cell growth and immunity support. During exercise, glutamine levels can drop significantly but it is vital for muscle cell growth. Although some glutamine naturally occurs in whey protein, if you are training hard you may want to consider an extra primary glutamine supplement to replenish the glutamine levels in your muscles.

Creatine is used by the body to power high intensity muscle movements – such as sprinting – but there is a limited supply created by your liver. Whilst you can get creatine from some foods, a supplement taken as a shake or capsule will boost your creatine levels, and increase your stamina and endurance. Creatine is one of the world’s most popular sports supplements, and promotes strength development.

…improving your own performance…

We’ve all experienced the effects of caffeine before, and know that it can increase alertness. However, it’s also incredibly effective as a sports supplement because it boosts fat burning, and encourages recovery to promote muscle growth. So you’ll not only be hyper-aware of what’s going on out on the field, you’ll also be improving your own performance.

As an athlete and a sportsperson, creating the right nutritional balance with supplements can enhance your performance and push you to your limits.