auto blank screen

That's exactly what I mean, that's at the very least 59 seconds of wasted battery time.

With the Pedometer apps & no doubt others. You put it in your pocket the screen goes off, you take it out the screen comes on. What's the point anyway of having the screen on when it's in your pocket, even if it's just for a minute.

This is not about locking the screen it's about immediately turning it off & on in order to have the least drain on the battery. It's obviously in the OS, it's just a shame this option isn't user enabled from the Brightness menu.

You state the obvious.

I know you can press the power key, press the home key, swipe the display, to achieve this. I’m talking about automation, not having to always remember to do all that.

Imagine the millions of people right now listening to the music player on their iPhones or iPods with the screen on when it doesn’t need to be. No doubt some of them will be moaning about the short battery life, I’m trying to promote a simple idea that will hopefully reduce the amount of negative press Apple get about battery life.