​CES 2016: Fasetto Link, 2 TB NAS in the palm of your hand

LAS VEGAS--We all know that there are a lot of silly gadgets at CES. Sometimes, though, we stumble over a small company with a big idea. That was the case with me with Fasetto and its tiny, 48 by 23 millimeter Network Attached Storage (NAS) device, Link.

The Link literally fits into the palm of your hand, yet it provides from 256GBs to 2TBs of storage. To fit into such a tiny form-factor, the Link uses Solid State Drives (SSD).

Since the device is too small to include an Ethernet port, the Link uses 802.11ac Wi-Fi to connect with a network. Users can connect Link to up to 20 devices, and stream content to-and-from up to seven devices simultaneously, regardless of platform. Files are transferred at up to 1900 Mbps. You can also stream music and video from the device.

For power, believe it or not, the Fasetto Link uses Qi wireless charging. This charges the battery, which can be idle for up to two weeks before losing its charge. The device can stream data for eight hours away from a Qi-compatible charger.

The Link runs on LINK OS, a specialized Linux distribution. Luke Malpass, Fasetto co-founder and software architect, said the OS was customized for storage and networking without any fat.

Fasetto will also work on the road without a network. To do this, the Link uses a proprietary ARCH transport layer, enabling devices to send content seamlessly through the native app or the device's web browser. With ARCH, users can transfer all content types by sending data between the Wi-Fi chip in a camera, for instance, and the Wi-Fi chip inside the Link.

To protect your data from being snatched from under your nose, the Link is protected by several layers of encryption.

The company is marketing this NAS primarily as a consumer device. "Our digital content means everything to us - it's our memories, our keepsakes and entertainment. We want to revolutionize the way it's accessed and experienced," said Coy Christmas, Fasetto's co-founder and CEO. "It starts with removing the barriers: wireless dependence, SD cards, storage limits and platform restrictions. And with that, we're making sure that all the content people capture and create is right there at their fingertips, accessible in an instant no matter where they are or what they're doing."

However, I can see a business case for mobile teams who are often on the move from office to office or from one customer site to another.

A limited number of beta devices will be available in April. The Link goes on sale in the fourth quarter of 2016. Prices will start at about $275 for the 250GB version to $1,400 for the 2TB model.