After installing the Java for OS X 2012-006 update, the Java Preferences app, for configuring applets and, more importantly for me, Java Web Start apps has gone. The tech note about this update says:
This update also removes the Java Preferences application, which is no longer required to configure applet settings.
If it's no longer required, what has replaced it, or how do I get back the same functionality? One of the things I used to be able to do was configure when / how the Java Console appeared. Now it doesn't appear ever, and there's apparently nothing I can do about it!
I already followed the steps in this tech note in order to re-enable the the Java plugin and Web Start functionality, even though I hadn't ever installed a Java 7 JRE.
I'm running OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.2.
Just read this CNET article which appears to indicate that the Apple now expects you install a Java 7 JRE from Oracle to get back applet and JWS support. The Oracle Java 7 JRE has its own preferences app.
The other option is to bring back the Apple Java Preferences app from a Time Machine backup, if it's available.
So, in summary the answer is one of: