Windows CE .NET was just a silly marketing term used for Windows CE versions 4.0, 4.1 and 4.2. They did a similar thing with Windows Server 2003, I think. When Windows CE 5.0 was released, MS realized how confusing/stupid the name was and just dropped the .NET moniker altogether.
In fact, CE 4.0 did not even support the final versions of the .NET Compact Framework "officially" (just the Betas).
Regarding .NET support on Windows CE OS versions:
The .NET Compact Framework 1.0 SP3 supports Windows CE 3.0, 4.0, 4.1 4.2, 5.0+
However, Version 2.0 of the .NET Compact Framework only officially supports CE 4.2 (via SP1) CE 5.0 and the brand new CE 6.0.
Regarding this StreetDeck app:
That would be quite cool. An app like this for Windows CE would be awesome! However, StreetDeck will have much more competition on the Windows CE platform than Windows XP. ;P There are AT LEAST 30 different Windows CE navigation programs worldwide for the various supported processor types (mainly ARM Pocket PC today, though) Including big players in the consumer personal navigation market like TomTom, Garmin, CoPilot etc. However, I really think they could be THE STANDARD app on x86 Windows CE as none of the major navigation programs support that processor type outside of (i'm sure very exepensive to licence) OEM use. I doubt they will sell an x86 OEM version for a low price to consumers. Newer versions of Windows CE such as 4.2 do support all the basics such as directX, Direct3D, etc... however it is up to your OEM what components your OS image includes. Now, if you are just building your own ROM image for custom hardware like a random Via mini-ITX box, you can of course add these components yourself. But on a device like a Windows CE Pocket PC, you will need to at the least copy and manually install some DirectX dlls on the device.
BTW: The DXPAK has been a part of the basic WinCE OS at least since WinCE 4.0. But you must realize that, while CE does support directshow, DirectX, D3D, etc., there is no true media player application like Windows Media Player on the desktop. The componets are mainly designed to be hosted in custom embedded OEM applications as ActiveX controls. The same is true with the Internet Explorer 6.0 port for Windows CE. The only EXE applications for Media Player or Internet explorer are nothing more than source code samples that demonstrate how to host the controls in an standalone EXE.
I hope this has cleared a few things up about the wonderous OS that is Windows CE.
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