That’s more because it was a bet on the wrong horse. If you know how to install Firefox you probably know what search engine you are using and how to switch the default search engine.
It's not the default browser on most devices. I think the parent comment is stating that if you're technical enough to install a 3rd party browser, you're technical enough to pick your own search engine. So people chose Firefox and chose away from Yahoo
I think Firefox users have now reduced to geeks and some 'real FOSS' enthusiasts etc. I still use Firefox as my primary browser, but I haven't seen any non-tech person installing it for a long time now. They all just search for Chrome and download, install that. So in today's times if someone's installing Firefox I'd say they'd mostly know their way around.
If Samsung is smart, then they ensure that their users gets access to new Bing as default, which means that even if people switch back (read get their nerdy friends to switch them back) they will find that Google is missing quite a lot.
As far as investor buzz is concerned, Microsoft has a lot of positive sentiment compared to Google.
Perhaps ironically it’s because Google’s search tailors it’s results to show me those results that paint MSFT in a positive light.
I can also see Generative AI providing some real amazing features with near OS level integration. Imagine being able to quickly draft business emails from your mobile device?
I don’t think Apple will have anything that amazing anytime soon so us iOS users will be stuck with using 3rd party apps, but I could see Samsung trying to distinguish their handsets with additional software capabilities not found in Android.
Google makes a shit ton of money from Search, Microsoft doesn't.
If Bing had more users the Microsoft would make more money from it, and vice verse for Google. Their respective sizes are a reason for Microsoft to grow Bing, not a reason to turn Samsung away.
Microsoft are investing $10b in OpenAI partly to make Bing better. That is not a sign they're happy with Bing's market share. They're coming for Google, albeit with an oblique strategy rather than competing directly.
how much can they afford to throw into this pit before investors start being worried
A lot, for a really long time. Microsoft have plenty of money and a history of playing a long game successfully. Have a look at Xbox if you want an example of Microsoft spending a lot of money for a very long time and coming out ahead in the end.
Google's offers to Android OEMs often mix search revenue, app store revenue, and ad revenue... a tying nightmare. Google is now under significantly increased scrutiny for how they manage these deals, they've gotten in trouble for destroying evidence and will now have even more incriminating evidence for future arrangements... it's a great time to press Google for a better deal because their hands are tied.
