And you really think Apple, selling their devices with the privacy label, would leave the browser market to 100% in google's hands? This would incredibly undermine their marketing strategy.
And what makes you think Safari R&D is solely funded by the search provider deal they have with google? Safari is a product that is sold as part of the "Apple universe", there's definitely more value to it than just a place for the google search box.
> And what makes you think Safari R&D is solely funded by the search provider deal they have with google?
Google paying them 20 billion per year is more than enough to fund several browsers and still make a profit, that being Safari's direct revenue stream. You don't need any more than that.
You're also making too many assumptions about Apple's motives and marketing, but can't get around the fact that money talks. In the future, things may change, but right now, Google funds Safari.
And what makes you think Safari R&D is solely funded by the search provider deal they have with google? Safari is a product that is sold as part of the "Apple universe", there's definitely more value to it than just a place for the google search box.