Recall that Google recently changed the "+" operator in search from forcing inclusion of a search term to "Google+ Direct Connect" [1]. The removal of the "+" from the Chrome new tab button is simply another step toward focusing the "+" symbol on the Google+ brand. I would expect to see something like a Google+ toolbar baked into Chrome in the not-too-distant future.
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Recall that Google recently changed the "+" operator in search from forcing inclusion of a search term to "Google+ Direct Connect" [1]. The removal of the "+" from the Chrome new tab button is simply another step toward focusing the "+" symbol on the Google+ brand. I would expect to see something like a Google+ toolbar baked into Chrome in the not-too-distant future.
[1] http://support.google.com/plus/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answe...
Chrome team: we did UX research and found it doesn't hurt, but actually helps!
User feedback: we did no UX research and just believe based on our own opinion that this is bad. Plzchangeback