Technologies

I, for One, Welcome a Brown iPhone 18 Pro. But Only on One Condition

Commentary: If Apple steals this Motorola Razr design feature, I think a brown iPhone could be stunning and not look like poop.

The iPhone 17 Pro launch feels like it was yesterday (it was actually two months ago) and we already have rumors about the iPhone 18 Pro — the most significant of which concerns the colors it might come in. After the 17 Pro debuted in cosmic orange, deep blue and silver, scuttlebutt suggests Apple could release the iPhone 18 Pro in a strikingly different trio of hues: purple, burgundy and coffee.

Yep, you could be rocking a brown iPhone in 2026. And while I can imagine a lot of people not opting for a possible poop-colored phone, I’m for it — albeit with one condition.

The iPhone 17 Pro has a new aluminum unibody design, a change-up from the titanium frames of previous Pro models. Instead of a glass back, there’s a rectangular panel made from Apple’s Ceramic Shield, a material used on the iPhone’s display since 2020. Visualizing a coffee-colored anodized coating and coffee-tinted Ceramic Glass might not be easy, so I got help.

CNET creative director Viva Tung created a mock-up of a coffee iPhone Pro, which you can see above. Yes, it resembles coffee ice cream or a latte. Definitely not as flashy as a cosmic orange iPhone 17 Pro and not as «meh» as the titanium iPhone 16 Pro.

Tung also made a version with the Apple phone in chocolate brown. This definitely puts the iPhone into poop emoji color territory, but I’m also getting some strong LG Chocolate vibes. In his 2007 LG Chocolate review for CNET, Kent German wrote, «We were eager to find out just what type of chocolate the Chocolate really is. Is it Hershey’s or Godiva? The answer seems to lie somewhere in between. By all means, it’s beautiful.»

So here’s my condition. What if Apple were to mix up its glass and metal materials recipe and take a page out of Motorola’s book

Over the past few years, Motorola has released phones made with materials such as vegan leather, wood and Alcantara fabric. The different materials, especially on Motorola Razr models, add to its appeal. There is a wide choice of colors and textures that make the Razr comfortable to hold and satisfying to touch — compared to the cold metal and glass on other phones. Another advantage? Fabric doesn’t crack when you drop it.

So what if Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro had a light-brown or coffee-toned vegan leather back? I could even envision them replacing the Ceramic Shield cutout on the back of the 17 Pro with a similarly shaped cutout made of vegan leather. It would be like the iPhone had its own built-in case. The contrast between the light-brown faux leather and the aluminum body would make it visually pop.

It would certainly alleviate any concerns people had about the iPhone 17 Pro being prone to scratches. It would bring a warmth to an Apple product that has been lacking over the years. More importantly, an iPhone 18 Pro with a coffee-colored vegan leather back could be a way to make a brown iPhone that doesn’t make people think of poop.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Jan. 24 #692

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for Jan. 24, No. 692.

Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s NYT Strands puzzle is one of those where the answers only make sense in pairs. There are six answers to find, and each of them matches up with one of the other answers. Some of them are difficult to unscramble, so if you need hints and answers, read on.

I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands theme is: A work of art.

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: On museum walls.

Clue words to unlock in-game hints

Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:

FINS, FINE, FINES, GARB, BOAT, GATES, GATES, FIST, RATE, RATS, STAR, PAINT, SILL, SPAT

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:

STARRY, NIGHT, WATER, LILIES, BOATING, PARTY

Today’s Strands spangram

Today’s Strands spangram is FAMOUSPAINTING. To find it, start with the F that’s four letters down on the far-left vertical row, and wind up, across, and then down.

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Toughest Strands puzzles

Here are some of the Strands topics I’ve found to be the toughest.

#1: Dated slang. Maybe you didn’t even use this lingo when it was cool. Toughest word: PHAT.

#2: Thar she blows! I guess marine biologists might ace this one. Toughest word: BALEEN or RIGHT.

#3: Off the hook. Again, it helps to know a lot about sea creatures. Sorry, Charlie. Toughest word: BIGEYE or SKIPJACK.

Technologies

San Diego Comic-Con Draws a Line: No AI Art Allowed at 2026 Event

The long-running fan convention is banning AI-created works from its popular art show.

Like Sarah Connor in The Terminator, San Diego Comic-Con is fighting back against AI. The prestigious, long-running pop culture convention has banned all artwork created by artificial intelligence from the 2026 Comic-Con art show. Rules posted on the Comic-Con website now state that AI-generated art won’t be shown in any form.

«Material created by Artificial Intelligence (AI) either partially or wholly, is not allowed in the art show. If there are questions, the Art Show Coordinator will be the sole judge of acceptability,» the website reads.

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A representative for San Diego Comic-Con did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In the past, the convention allowed participants to display AI artwork, provided it was clearly marked as such and wasn’t sold. But now, those artists can’t even bring it through the door. The rule change is a response to artist-led pushback, according to a 404 Media report. San Diego Comic-Con is one of the world’s most famous pop culture conventions, uniting comics, movies, television, gaming, cosplay and collectibles.

Jim Zub, writer for the Conan the Barbarian and Dungeons and Dragons comic book series, told CNET he supports Comic-Con’s decision and hopes other conventions will follow their lead.

«Hundreds of thousands of people attend San Diego Comic-Con each year, and the excitement that generates isn’t because they’re eager to meet a computer spitting out homogenized slop,» Zub said.

Zub, who’s also an artist, is scheduled to appear at Comic-Con in 2026.

Entertaining AI

The use of generative AI in comic book and pop culture art has generated controversy in recent years as AI programs have become more skilled at imitating creators.

A central focus of the 2023 actor’s strike involved backlash against the use of AI in movies and television. The issue has continued to roil Hollywood, as actors, special effects designers, and other film workers see the technology as a threat, while some movie studios view AI as a way to reduce production costs.

Netflix has already begun using AI-generated imagery in at least one series, Argentine sci-fi show El Eternauta. CEO Ted Sarandos praised the technology during a 2025 earnings call.

«We remain convinced that AI represents an incredible opportunity to help creators make films and series better, not just cheaper,» Sarandos said at the time.

AI is also an issue in the video game industry, with publishers facing swift backlash whenever fans discover AI was used in a game. The Indie Game Awards rescinded two awards for the hit RPG, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, after they found out that AI-made placeholder assets were included when the game launched. The game developer quickly patched the assets out.

While the movie and video game industries appear to have mixed views on using AI, Comic-Con has taken a firm stance, at least for now.

«Artists, writers, actors and other creatives gather and celebrate the popular arts in person because the people part of the equation is what matters most,» Zub said.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Saturday, Jan. 24

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Jan. 24.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? It’s a long one, as per usual on Saturday. 1-Down made me awfully hungry! Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.