What is REALLY causing the decreased battery life on my 4S?

Question

Suffice it to say that I've seen all of the related posts.  While I'm glad to see that I'm not alone, none of those posts really seem to help me, so I'm putting my own post out here.
I can't say exactly when the problems began, but they definitely started getting noticed by me AFTER the iOS6 upgrade.  First, my phone just died at 16%, and came back on at 16%.  Even though I calibrate monthly, I figured that it was time for another calibration, which I did after talking to an Apple rep and filing an actual case.  She gave me the obvious party line - nothing wrong, calibrate once a month, close all background apps as much as possible, charge it to 100% then take it off of the charger, try to minimize email push/pull, location services, bluetooth, brightness, etc., etc.  So the problems seemed to go away.
Today I leave the house with the phone at around 98%.  Minimal activity while I am driving but it is trying to pull email occasionally on a rainy day where service is probably spotty.  In any case, 20 minutes into the drive, I'm down to 75%, and by the time I reach my meeting location an hour later, I am under 50%.  Any time that I'm not looking at the phone, it stays put, but even the slightest inquiry into email or using an app, I can literally see the battery level going down.
I decide to hit the Genius Bar at my local Apple store on the way home.  He runs diagnostics on the battery, everything is fine (of course).  He says AT&T, if coverage is spotty or inconsistent, and it keeps trying to pull email and the like on a rainy day, could definitely drain battery down. Makes sense, sort of, but a lot of times I'm on a WiFi connection and it's still draining battery.  Yeah, I know, WiFi uses battery too.  Just getting more and more confused.  And this Genius tells me to keep the phone ON the charger, it's Lithium, it's forgiving, just leave it plugged in.  Now my head hurts.  By the time that I leave said Genius, I am plugged in my car and charging somewhere below 10%.  Home 1 hour and I'm already back up to 76% but that last 10% or so is going to take forever.  Normal, I know.
So as all of this is going on and my battery issues continue, or not, maybe I have no issues here, I can't help but wondering if some or all of this has something to do with the iOS6 upgrade?  I didn't ask the question of the Apple tech on the phone, or the Genius at the bar, not that I probably would have gotten a straight answer like "oh yes, there is a known issue between battery life and the iOS6, just don't talk too loud about it " but I find it more than a coincidence that this just started happening around the same time.  And by the number of posts, I'm not alone.
My question is, is it possible that the iOS6 upgrade is causing this newfound battery drain on my iPhone 4S, and shy of telling me to "reboot", "reset", "close all apps" or "watch my power consumption", what is Apple doing to address this/these issue(s)?

Answer 1

You are def not the only person with this issue.  However, it is NOT because of the update.  It is cause by your usage and how your phone is set up.  I'm not trying to be a dick or anything, but they gave us new features that do require more attention.  All power saving setting should be applied as they directed you.  But you can also start by reducing your phones usage, when it "stays put".  Start by closing apps you don't need running in the back ground.  Turn off location services for apps you dont need...  As an example, FB allows you to post a status and include your location...  But how does it know your location...?  cause its ALWAYS checking through out the day as you travel around so that it finds your location quicker by looking at your last known location.  Then you can also start by setting your screen brighness to auto.  Even though its on "auto" you determine the brightness that it should use on auto.  So dim your screen some.  Even a 25% reduction will add an hour or more to your phone.  Turn off notifications you don't need....  Even if you dont look at them, they still light up your screen and suck battery life... You can also set your notifications to alert you once and not twice as its set as a default.  If your using "find my friends" and you have a buddy who is a little too hyped about the app and stalking someones movements, then that location tracking is sucking the life out of your phone...  Just as an example...  Lets say your using it, and your buddy added you.  If you buddy thinks his wife is up to something and hes stalking her movements, every time he goes looking to see what she's doing, he's also checking on you....  Make sense??