Apache Kafka 3.7.0 has been released, bringing several new features and improvements. The release includes support for Java 11, which is now deprecated and will be removed in Apache Kafka 4.0. Additionally, the ability to migrate Kafka clusters from ZooKeeper metadata systems to KRaft metadata systems has been improved, with an early access release of JBOD (Java-based distributed object) available in KRaft clusters. The new simplified Consumer Rebalance Protocol provides better performance and reduces latency. Other notable features include support for client-level metrics via a standardized telemetry interface, transaction verification, and improved performance metrics for Tiered Storage. The update also includes changes to the Connect API, including the addition of a BooleanConverter and the deprecation of a redundant endpoint for fetching task configurations. Overall, this release aims to improve the performance, security, and resilience of Apache Kafka.