Google drops '+' from searches

[Dos_Box]

This would be why I've been receiving this message for the past few days:

The + operator has been replaced.
To search for an exact word or phrase, use double quotation marks: nvidia "ion"

Apparently you now have to use quotes to replace the plus symbol (when I say 'apparently' I really mean 'you now will').
More here: Google dumps + from Boolean search tool ? The Register

[sparkeh]

Yeah bit of an odd one that considering other boolean operators are available, guess they have something planned for the +

[Dos_Box]

Something sinister perhaps? No one has seen '+' for a week now. Do we need proof of life do you think or has Google made it have an 'accident'?
Sorry "accident".

[SYNACK]

Typical overzellous Google, boolean has existed since long before them and is still perfectly functional. Of course, google know better, they could at least still implement it for compatibilty.

[Dos_Box]

Perhaps they are going to demand ransom? If I get an email from Google demanding several million or else '+' gets it, will they send me a '-' via email to prove they are serious?

[vikpaw]

It'll be so they can reintroduce it as a way to search G+, or are they going to change that to G"" to maintain consistency

[sonofsanta]

Maybe (please God please) they are going to introduce it for emphasis, so that you can pick out the key word in the search term easily instead of just running several searches around it