The popular weekly magazine originally based in San Francisco, The Industry Standard, has been resurrected on the Internet by technology publishing company International Data Group (IDG). The New York Times first reported on Oct. 2, 2007, that IDG was looking to revive the magazine. Now, it's official.

"What we wanted to do was bring The Standard back online only. A print component wouldn't make sense," said Derek Butcher, the online publication's vice president and general manager. "We really want to be true to the editorial integrity and professionalism and quality analysis of the original Industry Standard; we want to provide the what and the why, rather than just the what."

As one opens their webpage, theindustrystandard.com, the first thing that strikes the reader is the presence on the first page of a system of bets on technology trends and events. This innovative system lets users bet virtual money on the outcome of different questions such as "Yahoo to accept Microsoft acquisition." The bets are then translated in a percentile score which reflects the community's opinion on what will happen.

"The [Standard] follows a new publishing model," said Managing Editor Ian Lamont. "The old Standard was an organization that had 450 people, but we are operating with a smaller group -- about 10 core staff and partners."

The original The Industry Standard began publication in the spring of 1998. In 2000, it sold more ad pages than any magazine in America but it was not long before the dot-com boom ended and the publication crashed. The Industry Standard had ceased publication and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August 2001.