I came across an excellent article today by Gary Stager (here) which states that teachers/schools should stop looking for "free" software. While this might yield a fun new tool, what it really does is kill the marketplace for actual programs that might change/improve education. If the corporate/advertiser/data-stealing model is the only thing that's working, all we're ever going to be given as teachers is free, pop-up, dumbed-down, silly software designed to appeal to the masses. Software is just as valid (if not more s0) than pencils, pens, books, and desks...so schools should be willing, able, and eager to pay. Otherwise, we're going to "pay later" in a much different way. (Gary Stager is much more fluent on this topic, so please check out his article to get the full scoop).
I miss ISTE this year...but it also doesn't sound like I'm actually missing anything. Maybe next time...