14 DAY TRIAL // The first Chrome 7.0 has been released for all platforms. Google Chrome 7.0.503.1 dev for Linux is an incremental update with very few changes for those already using the dev channel builds. The jump from Chrome 6 to Chrome 7 is largely symbolic and emphasises the beginning of a new development cycle.
"The Dev channel has been updated to 7.0.503.0 for Windows, Mac and Chrome Frame; 7.0.503.1 for Linux," Jason Kersey, part of the Google Chrome team, announced.
There is just one fix in the latest release of interest to Linux users: "IP addresses typed into the omnibox now work when offline."
The changes in the first Chrome 7 release are largely dependent on the last version used. Those who follow the dev channel have nothing to be excited about, with an update coming every week or so, the changes are rarely substantial.
In fact, even from the latest Chrome 6 beta, which has recently been released, there aren't many noticeable changes.
However, bigger changes are on the roadmap. For one, web apps will be fully supported in Chrome 7. The Chrome Web Store is already live in testing for developers and is now slated for an October launch.
The sync capabilities will be extended as well, to include support for web app sync, for obvious reasons, but also tab sync. Later on, password sync and perhaps history sync will be included, but these may not end up in Chrome 7.
While Chrome 7 has just landed in the dev channel don't get too comfortable with it, Chrome 8 should be coming very soon if Google's plans to speed up the development cycle come to fruition, as soon as late September or early October.
In the meantime, the stable release is still Google Chrome 5.0 but the Google Chrome 6.0 beta should be graduating to the stable channel soon.
Google Chrome 7.0.503.1 is available for download here.