Mountain Lion 10.8.2, Java Preferences has disappeared

Solution 1:

The update in question (Java for OS X 2012-006) disables the Safari Java plugin for security purposes. Per Apple technical bulletin:

This release updates the Apple-provided system Java SE 6 to version 1.6.0_37 and is for OS X versions 10.7 or later.

This update uninstalls the Apple-provided Java applet plug-in from all web browsers. To use applets on a web page, click on the region labeled "Missing plug-in" to go download the latest version of the Java applet plug-in from Oracle.

This update also removes the Java Preferences application, which is no longer required to configure applet settings.

Here is an Apple technical bulletin link on how to re-enable the plugin

If you need the full Java runtime you may download it directly from Oracle by going this webpage.

Solution 2:

It was removed because Apple believes you can use the (new) JAVA preference pane in your System Preferences to do this job now, but this is not the case.

If you want to reinstall it:

The 10.8 dmg has it under /Packages/JavaEssentials.pkg

I Googled around and found a link.

After the install you find your Java Preferences.app in its old place, allowing you to switch between all installed JAVA versions and allowing your Browsers to use applets again.

Yet another barrier for JAVA broken down.