Prerequisites

The Smithsonian X 3D Explorer is a modern 3D web application. It requires an up-to-date browser supporting WebGL, a technology needed to display 3D content in the browser.

Most modern browsers support WebGL, but there are some restrictions you need to be aware of. Use the following list to find out which browsers and operating systems fully support Smithsonian X 3D.

If you are unsure if you have WebGL support, visit this website.

Microsoft Windows

All major browsers on Windows are supported, including Microsoft Internet Explorer 11, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.

Browser Version X 3D Explorer Support
Google Chrome 30 and up Fully supported
Mozilla Firefox 24 and up Fully supported
Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 and up Fully supported

 Apple OS X

On OS X, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox fully support the Smithsonian X 3D Explorer. In Safari, WebGL is disabled by default. The following steps explain how to enable it:

  • Open the Safari menu and select Preferences.
  • Click the Advanced tab in the Preferences window.
  • At the bottom of the window, check "Show developer menu in menu bar"
  • Open the developer menu in the menu bar and select Enable WebGL.
Browser Version X 3D Explorer Support
Google Chrome 30 and up Fully supported
Mozilla Firefox 24 and up Fully supported
Apple Safari   Fully supported (Requires enabling WebGL manually, see instructions above)

Apple iOS

Apple does not permit the use of WebGL on iOS devices such as the iPhone and iPad. Although these devices technically fully support 3D graphics in the web browser, due to a restriction of Apple it is not currently possible to use the Smithsonian X 3D explorer on iOS devices.

Google Android

Browser Version X 3D Explorer Support
Google Chrome Version 30 and up Fully supported on the latest phones and tablets. Support might be limited on older devices.
Mozilla Firefox Version 24 and up Mostly supported on the latest phones and tablets. Support might be limited on older devices.