Slightly off-topic update: After I did a sudo apt-get remove libpod-common as suggested in http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1473082 the Ipod Shuffle (1st gen 512 MB) now mounts and opens automatically in Rhythmbox.
Slightly off-topic update: After I did a sudo apt-get remove libpod-common as suggested in http:// ubuntuforums. org/showthread. php?t=1473082 the Ipod Shuffle (1st gen 512 MB) now mounts and opens automatically in Rhythmbox.