My ubuntu 12.04 computer cannot see my Android 4.1.2 phone, instead I must install go-mtpfs and control it via command line. Thankfully, Andrew over at webupd8 provides all the necessary tools (all credit goes to him, for long version see there):

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/unstable
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install go-mtpfs

Optional:

sudo apt-get install go-mtpfs-unity

Mount:

go-mtpfs /media/MyAndroid

Unmount:

fusermount -u /media/MyAndroid

Ironic that I should now need a special programme to mount my one Linux device on my other Linux device while windows works out of the box…