Neo4j 1.9 has been released, offering improved clustering capabilities, enhanced Cypher language features, and new welcome pages for learning purposes. The release introduces Auto-Clustering, which simplifies cluster coordination by eliminating the need for a separate Zookeeper cluster, reducing operational complexity. Additionally, Cypher improvements include new functions, aggregate operation optimizations, and a profiler. Other notable additions include a neo4j-arbiter for consensus making, REST endpoints for inspecting cluster status, and auto-detection of full vs incremental backups in Neo4j Enterprise. The release also includes performance enhancements across the board and a Welcome Guide for new users.