[Galaxy Note GT-N7000 General] jeromepearce:
There are quite a few system apps that you cannot freeze, but still pop up when not desired. To stop these wasting my battery, I use Autorun Manager Pro to disable all their 'receivers' (these are events they listen for, and start up when the events occur).

Generally I find that they rarely start after that, and only when I use an associated app.

This is the way I deal with those apps you really do need, but do not want running all the time.

Aside from that, I am pretty ruthless about freezing apps using Titanium Backup Pro.

To see what is waking and/or using CPU when the phone is not used, I use Badass Battery Monitor.

---------- Post added at 08:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:28 PM ----------

To preserve battery during my day, I use Llama (Location Aware Mobile App). It is very versatile, but can take a long time to get the hang of. Essentially this replaces apps such as Juice Defender if they do not work for you (as they do not for me). It is a manual process to set up, but gives you much more control in many ways. Here are the things I use it for to help extend my battery life:

Manage my WiFi

When I am at home or at work, I get it to turn on my WiFi. This saves leaving it on all day wasting juice when I am out. I get it to turn off the WiFi 1 minute after the screen is turned off, and back on again when the screen is turned on and I am not at home or work. I find this far more effective than the built-in 'sleep when screen is off' which often does not work at all. I stop it turning off if I am using apps like Internet Radio, too.

Manage my Mobile Data

When I am at home or work, I turn off Mobile Data. This prevents apps seeking a connection and getting 3G (etc) when my WiFi is asleep. Saves loads of battery, as well as mobile data allowance. I could turn it off when the screen is off too, but when I am out and about is when I most need alerts, rather than when I am in front of my PC, as I am at work and home (sad but true). It could be a bigger battery saver like that for many users.

Screen Rotation

This is quite a drain, small but steady, and frankly I like my screen to stay still. I find it irritating when lying down to have it jump about, too. Certain apps need / prefer landscape, so I just allow rotation when these apps are being used. It then turns off when they close. A very neat solution, but a bit of a pain to set for all applicable apps. There may be separate apps that do this for you (I like having all the control in one app).

Sounds

I make all my sounds very quiet at work, and medium at home, and loud & vibrate when I am out. This saves manual messing about. Probably not much saving.

Brightness

My next project is to adjust the brightness of the display according to location and time. Probably a lot of potential saving, but it may be too difficult to set and may override my manual settings, eg when the sun comes out and I want it brighter. I'll see (and update this if I do).

Battery Level

I use this to kill everything except phone use and turn the display right down when the battery hits 20%. The phone can last a heck of a long time like that, as much as two days. I have had a Note not being used last for 10 days, so I expect a 10% per day drain without anything running. A potential life-saver (literally, perhaps).

Sync Apps on Charge

I start up all apps that sync over WiFi 1 minute after starting a mains charge. I do that every night, so all my syncing apps will not waste WiFi energy when I am at home or work.

OK, so why do all that? Why save all that battery?

:D Then I can play games and listen to books & music ! :D​

---------- Post added at 08:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:51 PM ----------

I also use DroidWall to stop any apps except those I allow to use Mobile Data or WiFi. This can save a lot or wasted battery in my experience.

I also feel naked without my firewall. It was the main reason I had to get Root access to the phone.