Rejoice all ye ARM Developers, for Linux 3.7 is out with ARM support! This is great news to the millions waiting to see the power of ARM chips unleashed.

There are some major changes introduced in Linux 3.7 which instills new hope and ARM developers have already started visualizing a bright future for Linux on tablets. The reason that has been keeping Linux from entering the tablet platform has started fading away with version 3.7 and it’s the right time for us to test it on small screens and gradually on smaller mobile screens. It was truly surprising to look at the tweaks in Linux 3.7 and I couldn’t help but marvel at the news of my favorite OS going to enter my favorite gadgets. I just can’t wait to see the flexible user interface getting integrated with sleek devices and providing a never before experience.

Linux 3.7 is an open source platform with multiple level support and hence it has high prospects of entering tablets. Each update of Linux had about 70,000 lines of codes added, which was huge compared to the merely 5,000 lines of codes that the x86 technology needed. This was the major reason why Linux was stopped at the gates of the tablet market. However, this has had a major change in the latest version, increasing the possibility of it being used on tablets. It supports a range of processors right from Marvell’s ARMADA SoC to Picohip’s picoXcell chips which means that it can now be utilized for a variety of applications including high end data center servers to mobile devices.

Moreover, the latest version can be used on devices with Human Interface Designs, aka HID, such as multitouch interfaces on capacitive touch screens. This apparently shows that Linux 3.7 is at the verge of being installed on tablets and mobile devices. ARM developers have a new challenge to handle. They have the task of channeling the flexibility of the OS into the small screens and different application needs of tablets in order to make the user interface, file sharing, and every other task done using tablets as easy as it is to do on devices powered by other operating systems. Though not immediately, we can see devices with Linux OS in the coming months.

Another factor favoring this is the ability of servers to convert themselves into ARM architecture from x86 technology. As mass migration of servers from x86 to ARM architecture is not a painful task, there are high chances of devices getting transformed. Linux kernel 3.7 can support low-power chips now and so data centers will not have to invest in expensive chips to support huge data transfers. As Linux can power such servers, it will not take a big deal to make less expensive servers, and hence there will be a major change in the PC industry. Kernel 3.7 is the first version that can support 64 bit memory which is widely used on new ARM based hardware. This is a clear indicator of Linux starting to gain momentum and a strong footage in the mobile front.

There are many more tweaks in 3.7 kernel and it has been tuned up to perform various other functions and to catch up with the x86 technology in many aspects. It supports SMB2 (Server Messenger Block) protocol and so it will be a big advantage to those who often have to transfer giant files. The SMB2 protocol was introduced by Microsoft in 2007 when it released Windows Vista. It is still supported on Windows and SMB2 helps Linux to transfer files from storage devices attached to the network to PCs easily. It also supports file sharing through Network File System. The added advantage is that it supports parallel Network File System enabling you to transfer files extremely fast between clustered servers.

Kernel 3.7 is more secure because it accepts only approved codes. Therefore, even if someone tries to crack your codes, you can be sure that they won’t be able to do any harm as it allows only signed kernel modules. For more information about the new tweaks, you can visit the Linux 3.7 website. For the ones who are looking for a Linux based network, it is really going to be a blessing.

This is a guest post by Nathan Brown of buyatt.com, a site that offers savings and current information on what is uverse as well as att.com services.