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 mode
iPads are perhaps Apple’s 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 I’m sure make that more common.
The Apple News app is getting a brand new Food section for News+ subscribers, where you’ll 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 that’s 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. You’ll even be able to start timers right inside the cooking interface.
#2: Sketch in Image Playground
Image 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 redesign
iOS and iPadOS share much of the same core code, but it’s not uncommon for the iPhone to get new features ahead of the iPad. That’s what happened with last year’s Apple Mail redesign.
In iPadOS 18.4, Apple’s Mail app has now gotten upgraded on the iPad too, bringing new features like:
- automatic inbox categorization
- digest view to consolidate threads
- sorting of new and older messages
- contact photos displayed in your inbox
This all works just like it does on the iPhone. And also like the iPhone, you can mostly disable the changes you don’t want.
#4: Ambient Music
Control Center is gaining a new category of controls on iPad and iPhone: Ambient Music.
iPadOS 18.4 includes four music options to choose from:
- Chill
- Productivity
- Sleep
- Wellbeing
Each 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 you’d like.
iPadOS 18.4 features: wrap-up
This 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.
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