MTP and Ipod don't work in Rhythmbox 3.0.2

I am using Peppermint OS4 32bit, and Rhythmbox 3.0.2. on a Toshiba Equim AMD Athlon 64bit. I have been using Peppermint and Ubuntu since 2010. I have never not once been able to see or use any MTP, Android, Kindle or Apple device in Rhythmbox. Even my external hard drive is not recognised although I scan the later on start up and import to my music library. I have the plugins so there should be no problem there. Like I say I have had this problem for 5 years and have asked the question a number of times. It would be nice to be able to make playlists and drop them into my portable music players. As it is I always have to do this directly from my hard drive, which with 10,000+ tracks can take the best part of a day if I really want to make a selection from all my available tracks. It would be nice to be able to use the Rhythmbox browse function and drop them from there. What am I doing wrong? It surely cannot be that this problem has persisted through 4 or 5 operating systems on 4 or 5 different laptops. Please help somebody.

Thanks
Kelv

PS I was referred to this site from the Peppermint community web page. When I asked the question on Peppermintos.com this is where I was directed so I don't understand why the answer is - sorry don't answer Peppermint questions.