All mobile browsers had a zoom function - I am actually too lazy to check, but I can't imagine they wouldn't have had zoom, because then they would have been un

All mobile browsers had a zoom function - I am actually too lazy to check, but I can't imagine they wouldn't have had zoom, because then they would have been unusable. Lot's of companies worked on tablets and even published them. I think the mistake you and others are making is saying "for ten years nobody managed to publish a successful tablet, so Apple must have solved a very hard problem". What you forget is that in those ten years there was a lot of technological progress that made modern tablets possible: better screens, faster, more energy efficient CPUs and GPUs and so on. Apple simply was a bit better in their timing for coming to market. You may applaud them for their good sense of waiting, or you may applaud others for being more daring and coming out with tablets before the tech was ready. Also, a big part of the success was simply marketing. Which certainly has some merit, but it shouldn't affect the patent issues.