GEN vs Widgets Now
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
GEN
This tool generates professional video reference signals and offers display analysis capabilities for broadcast engineers and AV professionals. It helps test, troubleshoot, and evaluate video paths, routing systems, and displays with advanced signal quality features.
- Professional test patterns
- Video reference clips
- Multiple video formats and frame rates
- RasterScope Analysis
- SWEEP technology
- External display output
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GEN-B is a professional broadcast signal generator and display analysis tool designed for broadcast engineers, AV professionals, system integrators, technicians, and anyone who needs reliable video reference signals for testing, troubleshooting, and display evaluation. Built for portability and real-world workflows, GEN-B turns your device into a powerful signal generation and analysis platform capable of producing high-quality video references while providing practical display analysis tools. VIDEO REFERENCES GEN-B includes a comprehensive library of professional video reference signals designed to evaluate displays, video paths, routing systems, converters, switchers, processors, and monitoring equipment. Features include: • Professional test patterns • Video reference clips • Multiple video formats • Multiple frame rates • Geometry references • Grayscale references • Color references • Luma references • Gamma evaluation patterns • Resolution and focus references SIGNAL QUALITY GEN-B was developed with signal quality as a primary objective. The application provides high-quality video references suitable for professional evaluation workflows, including progressive and interlaced formats across multiple frame rates. Selected reference content supports advanced color reproduction, up to 12-bit video precision, and 4:4:4 chroma sampling, helping preserve fine image detail, color fidelity, and signal accuracy throughout the testing process. DISPLAY ANALYSIS GEN-B goes beyond traditional signal generation by incorporating display analysis capabilities. Using RasterScope Analysis and SWEEP technology, GEN-B can evaluate display behavior using generated reference signals and mathematical analysis techniques. Analysis functions help users better understand: • Active display area • Aspect ratio behavior • Image positioning • Display utilization • Side matte detection • Signal-to-display mapping SWEEP TECHNOLOGY At the core of GEN-B’s analysis system is a programmable RasterScope White Box Scanner. The scanner moves through the generated raster while mathematical analysis is used to interpret positional behavior and produce meaningful display evaluation information. Rather than relying only on assumptions, GEN-B generates a known reference signal and analyzes how that signal is represented on the connected display. This approach provides practical engineering insight using a portable mobile platform. TROUBLESHOOTING GEN-B was created to assist with real-world troubleshooting scenarios. Use GEN-B to: • Verify display operation • Evaluate video paths • Test display scaling behavior • Identify aspect ratio issues • Validate system performance • Troubleshoot signal routing problems • Confirm display response to known reference signals FLEXIBLE CONNECTIVITY GEN-B supports multiple external display workflows, allowing users to work in a variety of environments. Supported workflows include: • Direct external display output through compatible adapters and cables • USB-C display connections where supported • DisplayPort-compatible workflows • Wireless Output using Apple Screen Mirroring when available When using direct external display connections, additional analysis features such as RasterScope Analysis and SWEEP may be available depending on the connected hardware. RasterScope Analysis and SWEEP Analysis require direct output verification and are not available through Screen Mirroring, since mirroring may scale, composite, or reinterpret the image before it reaches the display. A TOOL DESIGNED BY ENGINEERS GEN-B was designed from an engineering perspective. The application combines signal generation, display analysis, mathematical modeling, and troubleshooting tools into a portable solution that remains simple to operate. Generate known reference signals. Analyze real-world display behavior. Transform observations into meaningful engineering information. GEN-B by Precision Broadcast Engineering.
Widgets Now
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Widget Now is a widget studio — and a way to keep one number in front of the people who share it with you. DESIGN YOUR OWN WIDGETS Start from 21 widget types: clocks, world clocks, calendars, countdowns, live weather, sunrise and sunset, moon phase, activity rings, steps, water, photos, battery, reminders, quotes and more. Then make them yours with 14 theme presets, 16 gradients, solid colours and photo backgrounds, 20 typefaces, and adjustable corners, padding and borders — with a live preview that updates as you edit. Every design works on both the Home Screen and the Lock Screen. TRACK ONE NUMBER TOGETHER Pick something you and someone else both care about — miles run, waters drunk, deals closed, pages read, days sober, money saved — and Widget Now keeps it in sync between you. Everyone's contributions roll into a single total with a leaderboard, and that number lands on every surface iOS offers: • Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets • A Live Activity on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island • A full-screen dashboard when you AirPlay to an Apple TV Invite someone with a link, a message or a QR code. When they tap it, an App Clip shows them the group straight away — they can put it on their Lock Screen before installing anything. LIVE ACTIVITIES Design timers, event countdowns, progress trackers and live counters in your own colours and symbols, then run them on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island. SYNCS WITH ICLOUD Your designs follow you across iPhone and iPad automatically. Shared groups sync to everyone in the group, and updates arrive on their own — no refresh button. PRIVATE BY DESIGN No accounts, no sign-ups, and no servers of ours. Everything lives in your own iCloud. What you share is limited to the people you share it with, and the contents of a shared group are stored encrypted. Widget Now collects no analytics and shows no ads.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Widgets Now at none against GEN's 1. GEN's advantage is ratings volume (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (17.5 vs 26.5). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. GEN sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Widgets Now asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for GEN against 5.0 for Widgets Now. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.
| Parameter | GEN | Widgets Now |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (3 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 3 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.5 — better | 26.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 208 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Precision Broadcast Engineering LLC | Now Studio LLC |
In-app purchases
GEN
- GEN-B Lifetime Unlock$29.99
Widgets Now
No in-app purchases









