This is very exciting because I feel this addresses one of the cornerstone technology failures that keeps me from enjoying the computing model I want, which I call PAO [1]. Namely, it deals with the failure of VPNs to evolve into something that regular consumers can understand. Plug in this device, add a hard drive, and access your data on your various computing devices from anywhere on the Internet. VPNs have had the underlying capability to provide that access to personal data, and those savvy enough to implement a personal VPN server do so. I don't use cloud file servers because I can access my home network's file server over an IPSec VPN from all of my devices. But what a pain in the ass.
Most people defer the responsibility to manage their data to cloud vendors because cloud vendors solve the key pain point (I need my data everywhere) at the seemingly low cost of just losing control and some added friction. But the alternatives where control is retained have classically been user interface disasters. I imagine my mom setting up an IPSec/L2TP VPN--yeah, not happening.
Even as someone who does have the ability to set up a VPN, I am left with routine annoyances associated with the abysmal user interfaces associated with managing VPN connections.
Of course, in addition to this, to realize PAO, I still need an OS-level application server concept with all my applications designed in a "responsive" model servicing multiple concurrent views. But providing always-on plug-and-play VPN connectivity and from-everywhere access to personal data is a leap forward.
Thanks for your work on this, guys!
Such a device has the potential to render all traditional cloud storage vendors obsolete, and I welcome that potential future.
[1] http://tiamat.tsotech.com/pao