More and more potential Google Glass competitors are coming out of the woodwork, as we approach 2014, when Google's smartglasses are likely to get a wide release for consumers. The newest possible competitor is from long-time smartglass developer Meta, which is now taking pre-orders for the MetaPro.

The MetaPro is the latest model of smartglasses from Meta, and the first from the company to be slated for a consumer release. It's expected to ship in June of 2014, and is now available for pre-order from Meta's appropriately titled "Spaceglasses.com" website.

As far as hardware, the MetaPro offers an impressive array of sensors and capabilities - much more than even smartphones - but there are a couple caveats to consider before you rush to the spaceglasses website to purchase your MetaPro.

The MetaPro offers two 720p HD lenses with a 40-degree field of vision, which according to Meta offers 15 times the screen area that Google Glass's one HUD eyepiece delivers. Because the MetaPro has two lenses, users have the ability to use a virtual UI across their entire field of vision, or to take advantage of stereoscopic 3D with one of the 500+ augmented reality apps that Meta says are either available or in development for their consumer smartglasses.

The smartglasses are powered by an Intel Core i5 processor (with an integrated GPU) with the assistance of 4GB of RAM. "Number one, we promise the most powerful CPU and GPU for a wearable computer. Number two, we promise the most useful and excellent sensory array; the best sensors on the market, the best optics," boasted Meta CEO Meron Gribetz to GigaOm. Indeed, the MetaPro also has an infrared 3D scanner, accelerometer, gyroscope, and dual RGB cameras, among other sensors.

For connectivity, the smartglasses has WiFi 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0, and a USB port. The MetaPro has a 32Wh battery for up to 8 hours of use, and for storage - a 128GB solid state drive.

Compared to the specs of Glass, like the 16GB flash memory, maximum 1GB RAM, and speculated dinky system on a chip, the MetaPro blows Google's offering out of the water. So much so, that you might be wondering how Meta fits that 128GB SSD, 4GB RAM, and Core i5 processor in a pair of glasses.

They don't.

What's probably the second biggest caveat for the MetaPro is the fact that it is wired, by design, to a separate mini PC that rests in your pocket. But while that's not the most elegant design for a wearable computer, for those who would be interested in buying and donning a pair of aviator-sized smart sunglasses throughout the day, a wire leading from those glasses to your pocket is probably not a big deal. What may end up being a bigger problem is that, even after outsourcing the hardware to your pocket, the MetaPro glasses alone weigh four tenths of a pound. That's a lot of weight for the bridge of your nose to carry every day, all day.

What may be an even bigger deal, especially for aspiring early adopters without a lot of extra cash, is the price. The MetaPro costs $3000.