Today Apple has opened its new Mac App Store which mirrors Apple’s App Stores for its popular iPad, iPhone, and iPod products. I don’t own a Mac computer but I am familiar with the App Store as I use it for my iPod touch. With all the buzz surrounding this new Apple service I decided to explore some of the Apps currently available in the new Mac App Store. One of the first Apps I came across was Compartments. The App is introduced simply as “fast, easy-to-use home inventory application.” After reading more I discovered that a Compartments user can input information about things they own in their home, organize that information by room, input warranty information, and generate insurance reports which estimates the current value of a user’s things just to name a few of its functions.
Reading all of the information about Compartments brought to mind many stories I have heard about families having to sort through their parents or grandparents stuff in their house trying to figure out what it is, what its worth, and who should keep it. With a lack of documentation or instruction from the owner of these items, the probate of an estate may be stalled and even worse, arguments often ensue among family members. With Compartments, most of these issues may be able to be avoided. Further, many states, such as Florida, permit a testator to draft a memorandum that inventories personal items such as household furnishings and designate who shall receive them at death instead of including that information in his or her actual will. Although Compartments may not be used to replace such document, it may be used to help making this document an easier task.
Here are links to the Mac App Store description of Compartments and to the actual website for Compartments