Ever since Edward Snowden blew the whistle on the National
Security Agency's spy games, the world has been clamoring for a
more secure way to communicate.  Blackphone—a joint venture
between Silent Circle and Geeksphone—may be the answer.  The
first device to place privacy and control directly in the
consumer's hands, Blackphone runs free of carriers and vendors.
The vendors say the Android-based PrivatOS provides users a safe
place to make and receive phone calls, exchange texts, transfer
and store files, and video chat, without fear of the government
eavesdropping.  According to Geeksphone CEO Javier Agüera, the
PrivatOS system comes with access to the same familiar Android
applications, but with an added level of privacy.  "Blackphone
is a journey built upon privacy, control, and security, wrapped
in a high-end smartphone built by a very innovative all-star
team of cryptographers, security, and mobile innovators," Silent
Circle CEO Mike Janke said in the Blackphone video (below).
From the minds behind dat