Find out what is item's URL and load it when ready. Oh yeah, and show me a loading screen if it takes more than 1 second for preparation. And call off the fuss if item has changed. Hell yeah, ReactiveCocoa.

ReactiveCocoaPower.m

    self.currentItem = item;
    RACSignal *itemChanged = [[RACObserve(self, currentItem) skip:1] take:1];

    // prepare item until switched to other item
    RACSignal *itemReady = [[item rac_prepareItem] takeUntil:itemChanged];
    
    // show description if preparation takes more than 1 second 
    [[[[[RACSignal interval:1.] take:1]
      takeUntil:itemReady]
     deliverOn:[RACScheduler mainThreadScheduler]]
     subscribeNext:^(id x) {
         [self setLoadingStateWithTitle:@"Fetching URL" animated:YES];
    }];
    
    // load item when ready
    [itemReady
     subscribeNext:^(id<FDPlayerItem> readyItem) {
        // ready
        [self loadAssetFromURL:[item url]];
    }];