Apple is about to launch its next big software updates, including iPadOS 18.4 with a variety of new features. Here are four features coming to your iPad very soon.#1: Cooking modeiPads are perhaps Apples most versatile device, used as laptops, sketchbooks, entertainment devices, and more. I know a number of users who also rely on their iPad in the kitchen while cooking. And a new iPadOS 18.4 feature will Im sure make that more common.The Apple News app is getting a brand new Food section for News+ subscribers, where youll find restaurant reviews, food lifestyle articles, and perhaps most important: recipes.Tens of thousands of recipes are included at launch, all equipped with a special cooking mode thats perfect for iPad.When viewing a recipe, you can hit the Cook button to enter a step-by-step guide that walks you through the cooking process. Youll even be able to start timers right inside the cooking interface.#2: Sketch in Image PlaygroundImage Playground has a variety of fun use cases, but I imagine over time it may prove a hit with young kids especially. The simple process for creating AI images lends itself well to kids (or adults) just playing around and having fun on their iPad.In iPadOS 18.4, Image Playground is getting a brand new style you can create images in: Sketch. This joins the existing Animation and Illustration options, and lets you make new images with a hand-drawn look. You can even modify existing images in your library to use the new Sketch style.#3: Apple Mail redesigniOS and iPadOS share much of the same core code, but its not uncommon for the iPhone to get new features ahead of the iPad. Thats what happened with last years Apple Mail redesign.In iPadOS 18.4, Apples Mail app has now gotten upgraded on the iPad too, bringing new features like:automatic inbox categorizationdigest view to consolidate threadssorting of new and older messagescontact photos displayed in your inboxThis all works just like it does on the iPhone. And also like the iPhone, you can mostly disable the changes you dont want.#4: Ambient MusicControl Center is gaining a new category of controls on iPad and iPhone: Ambient Music.iPadOS 18.4 includes four music options to choose from:ChillProductivitySleepWellbeingEach one is tied to a specific Apple Music playlist that fits the described mood. But you can also customize them to your liking, choosing from a curated set of Apple playlists or selecting any other playlist youd like.iPadOS 18.4 features: wrap-upThis is just a sampling of the new features coming in iPadOS 18.4. There are also a number of other Apple Intelligence upgrades coming, plus smaller changes to apps like Photos and the TV app, and more.Which features are you most excited to try in iPadOS 18.4? Let us know in the comments.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel