Google-Meta-Description Change

Has Google changed the Meta Description Criteria? Previously, the meta description of a web page included about 150 characters. But now it seems Google has changed the Meta Description word limit criteria. Now Google includes up to 250 characters in the Meta Description
It seems so, as is visible from the following screen-shot:

Hey SEO guys, wake up. Google is upto something. For those who thought the following is true:

"Google displays about 150 to 160 characters from meta description tags in their search results. If your description runs past 160 characters they will cut .." Astonishingly, this is no longer true. Google has started displaying upto 250 characters Meta Description.

Another astonishing point is that Google is no longer limiting the Meta Description details to the exact meta name="description" content="Meta Description Text"

At times one part of the meta description content is taken from the meta name="description" content="Meta Description Text" tag, followed by ... and another line may be picked up from any line or para in the page having relavant keywords. meta content="Meta Description Text" name="description" meta content="Meta Description Text" name="description">

Is the meta name="description" content="Meta Description Text" Tag redundant? watch out SEO Developers!