[Moto X General] hachamacha:
I was thinking about android's API for CPU Usage (see http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=57045436&postcount=3420) and did some combing of the v21 and lower API's to see if I could detect any differences in how developers might figure out cpu/process stats.

Maybe my idea isn't so bad (I'm not sure yet) that the indications given by app-store based CPU analyzers is not accurate because now that I've looked at the APIs for v21 and below, I realize there is no "supported" API guaranteed not to change. In fact, not even the /proc filesystem (source of all kinds of stats) and the busybox utils like "top and ps" are guaranteed not to change where they get their numbers from. In plain speak, there is no way to accurately and dependably measure CPU usage, so we're all playing with a stacked deck.

The bottom line (assuming the above is true, and it is verified by Google developers) is that the best way to figure out CPU usage and of course battery drain is by observation from day to day. For background/sleep modes, then looking at the battery level from sleep time one night to wake time the next day is about it. Mine loses about 1-4% / 7 hours. During awake time (or screen on time), the usage on 4.4.4 with the 4.4.2 radio is better by quite a bit than I had on 4.4.2 (I'm not using extraneous apps for this testing stuff). I'm also not disabling anything at all, so that bluetooth, GPS, full accuracy, wifi, etc, all are on all the time.

So here is the thing I've changed from my initial try at 4.4.4 last week: 1) I've gone into Philz and done a factory reset/wipe data. 2) I've reinstalled the base and not used "keep data" and 3) I've installed the GPE ROM for the xt1060 with the customized kernel. Since then the lifetime looks to be ~3-5 days until charge and yes, I know that sounds insane but I'm only basing it on observed battery time remaining. Keep in mind that I mostly use my phone for actual phone calls and texting. I don't watch movies on the thing or play games or social media.

In a few days before I recharge I'll put up some screenies of GSAM, cpuspy, and other stats. I'm no longer convinced in any way that 4.4.4 has worse battery life than 4.4.2, quite the opposite. Of course, if any single device has any changes from my setup, then who the hell knows? I believe everyone that says their battery life sucks, and also those that don't and no doubt there are some liars who get off on that sort of thing in forums. If things go as they look they will from this point, I'll have the screens up soon to either confirm or not confirm those results. Without a supported API, I've no idea now how app developers get their stats. It's as likely that they use TOP or the /proc filesystem to get them as some unsupported API call. Would be nice if Android had put in a CPU stats API that was guaranteed to be apples to apples over time, but no deal.

Edit: Added some screenies after getting low on battery. I had a lot of data transfer going in the BG (unlimited act etc), so screen time maybe a bit less than usual, but data transfer was quite high, about 14GB. All services enabled, all sensors enabled. I'll do another a few days after the next charge.