Linux Kernel Release 2.6 aided embedded computing in several ways. It introduced kernel preemption, allowing other applications to continue running even during complex background tasks. The scheduler was improved to be more efficient, prioritizing tasks in O(1) time. New synchronization primitives like mutexes and futexes were added to help applications safely share resources and avoid race conditions. Overall, while not a true real-time OS, Linux 2.6 enhanced responsiveness for embedded systems through these changes.