Hangouts replaces Hangouts on Air in Google+ navigation menu

The "Hangouts On Air" option in Google+'s navigation menu has been replaced with "Hangouts", and it's not actually clear why (yet).

Google+ Navigation Menu

Not only has the name changed from "Hangouts on Air" to "Hangouts" on the Google+ navigation menu, but the yellow Hangouts On Air icon has also been replaced by the regular green Hangouts icon. This could be confusing to new users, as there is now two "Hangouts" buttons on the desktop web interface of Google+, the one on the right where all your conversations are, and the new one on the navigation menu which takes you to the usual page where Hangouts On Air listings are.

Apart from the confusing name and icon change, a new tab is also present next to the old "Hangouts On Air" one. Meet "Live parties", where any Hangout parties that you've been invited to will be listed. It is easier however to just check if there are any current Hangout parties going on by hovering over the button on the conversations list.

One last change we've noticed is that when clicking on Hangouts (the one in the navigation menu), it will automatically open up your conversations list on the right, which could be an annoyance to those using the Hangouts Chrome extension.

Part of something bigger?

Maybe the Google+ team has something big in store for us, and this is just the first step in rolling out a big update to Hangouts on the desktop version of Google+. This only seems logical to me, as I don't understand the way things are done now (two Hangouts buttons, what?).

I wouldn't mind seeing a full page of conversations, as well as the other features such as viewing Hangouts on Air's and live parties (which are being handled separately for now), but we'll have to wait before the next piece of the puzzle is placed.

I'd like to know your thoughts on the change, and speculations of what the future has in store for us with Hangouts. If you want to chime in, feel free to do so in the comments below!